Peoria Soldier Saves Woman After Near Fatal Fall
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: September 22, 2012
PEORIA COUNTY- A lot of people take advantage of the parks and trails in the Peoria area, but most don't think a day in the park will end with them fighting for their lives.
That happened to Susan O'Rourke on September 6th as she was riding her horse in Jubilee College State Park. She didn't know she would later rely on the help of a total stranger to save her life.
"I fell right on the corner of my head. Now like any good horse person I was wearing a helmet and the helmet probably saved my life, it was probably the first thing that day that saved my life," O'Rourke said.
She fell off her horse and hit her head on the path, which was made up of rocks and packed dirt. O'Rourke says the second thing that saved her life that day was a man named Jimmy Rade, a member of the National Guard.
"Come around a corner and noticed two boots sticking straight up in the air," Rade said.
Rade happened to be out scouting for deer season and came across a bloody O'Rourke. She'd been laying there for about an hour.
"He says I was pleasant and friendly and very approachable. I don't remember any of that," O'Rourke said. That's because she was slipping in and out of consciousness; her brain was bleeding from the fall. Rade put his military first-aid training to use. Then he called 911.
"I would hope that anyone would do the same thing if I was there on the trail," he said.
Rade and O'Rourke haven't met since, but they've spoken on the phone.
"I thanked him for saving my life," O'Rourke said.
"You always do have a little bond with somebody after you've gone through something like that. And I wish the best for her," Rade said.
It just took one person to be a good Samaritan, or O'Rourke might not be here today.
"Someone there that needed some help and I was able to help out and I feel blessed and honored to be able to do that," Rade said.
O'Rourke isn't back on her horse quite yet, she's working with a neurologist to make sure everything is OK. She says she will ride again.
That happened to Susan O'Rourke on September 6th as she was riding her horse in Jubilee College State Park. She didn't know she would later rely on the help of a total stranger to save her life.
"I fell right on the corner of my head. Now like any good horse person I was wearing a helmet and the helmet probably saved my life, it was probably the first thing that day that saved my life," O'Rourke said.
She fell off her horse and hit her head on the path, which was made up of rocks and packed dirt. O'Rourke says the second thing that saved her life that day was a man named Jimmy Rade, a member of the National Guard.
"Come around a corner and noticed two boots sticking straight up in the air," Rade said.
Rade happened to be out scouting for deer season and came across a bloody O'Rourke. She'd been laying there for about an hour.
"He says I was pleasant and friendly and very approachable. I don't remember any of that," O'Rourke said. That's because she was slipping in and out of consciousness; her brain was bleeding from the fall. Rade put his military first-aid training to use. Then he called 911.
"I would hope that anyone would do the same thing if I was there on the trail," he said.
Rade and O'Rourke haven't met since, but they've spoken on the phone.
"I thanked him for saving my life," O'Rourke said.
"You always do have a little bond with somebody after you've gone through something like that. And I wish the best for her," Rade said.
It just took one person to be a good Samaritan, or O'Rourke might not be here today.
"Someone there that needed some help and I was able to help out and I feel blessed and honored to be able to do that," Rade said.
O'Rourke isn't back on her horse quite yet, she's working with a neurologist to make sure everything is OK. She says she will ride again.
