Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

US Marine thanks Bulgarian rescuers for second chance at life

Last November, US Navy Lieutenant Commander James Barlow (L) was hiking on Vihren Peak when he lost his footing and fell more than 200 metres.
Photo: US embassy in Sofia

5 November 2023 is a date US Marine James Barlow will always remember. It was the day he conquered Vihren Peak in the Pirin Mountains, but minutes later his life took a dramatic turn. He fell over 200 metres at a speed of 60 km/h and landed on his head. He suffered severe hypothermia. 
James Barlow, a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, was hiking on Vihren Peak when he lost his footing and fell 220 meters
"I don't remember what happened, I hit my head, had a brain haemorrhage and lost consciousness," says James Barlow. It was his wife who alerted emergency services when he didn't return home. 

The couple's young son retrieved the GPS coordinates from James' mobile phone, making the rescue much easier. Twenty mountain rescuers set out immediately and found him 10 hours after the accident. "We were surprised that he was still alive. Our eyes widened when he responded," recalls Ivo, one of the rescuers.

James was first admitted to the Military Medical Academy, where doctors fought for his life. A month later, he came out of a coma in a US hospital. "I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world," James admits today. Now fully recovered, he has returned to Bulgaria to thank his rescuers and to donate BGN 12,000 (almost €6,000) to the Mountain Rescue Service for team training.

"My family and I will never stop being grateful because without these amazing people here in Bulgaria I wouldn't be alive, I would have died in the mountains. There are good people in the world who really want to help others," says James. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

“Space weekend” for the lovers of astronomy in Cherni Osam

Leading researchers and lecturers from the St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia and the Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will be paying a visit to the Museum of Natural History in..

published on 11/2/24 7:45 AM

Celebrating the walnut - the village of Oryahovitsa organizes a festival dedicated to its symbol

The village of Oryahovitsa, Stara Zagora region, today celebrates its symbol - the walnut tree.   There will be a Festival of the Walnut with a varied programme featuring the Kazanlahsko Nastroenie (Kazanlak Cheer) Orchestra, the soloist of..

published on 11/2/24 7:30 AM
Boris Ruge

Balkan Developments

Disputes in Croatia over sending military personnel to NATO mission in support of Ukraine NATO Acting Deputy Secretary General Boris Ruge visited Croatia to explain to local MPs about the Alliance's mission in support..

published on 11/1/24 2:22 PM