Gregory Nappi, whose heroic efforts led to the rescue of a friend injured in the Alaska backcountry, is among the recipients of the Governor's Annual Awards for Emergency Medical Services, which were announced Friday at the State Emergency Medical Services Symposium in Anchorage.

On the morning of April 9 Nappi and fellow climber Joe Butler were attempting a spring ice-climb above Eklutna Glacier in Chugach State Park. Butler began sliding, went into a steep couloir and, some 1,000 feet later, came to a stop with a broken leg and other injuries.

Nappi rappelled down the slope and found Butler. He then hiked several miles to a wilderness hut to get a sled, tent and other survival gear and brought it all back up the mountain. With the sled, he was able to move Butler to a better location. As night came and a storm moved in, he got his friend into the tent, then skied through the dark to reach a ranger cabin. The cabin was unoccupied and locked. Nappi broke in the door to reach a phone from which he made an emergency call at 5 a.m.

Within hours rescuers reached Butler and evacuated him in a 50 mph blizzard.

Nappi will receive the Consumer/Citizen Award, one of several sponsored by the Alaska Council on Emergency Medical Services to be presented at the 34th Annual Governor's Alaska EMS Awards Banquet at the Egan Convention Center at 8 tonight.

The other recipients are:

• Soren Threadgill, EMS Provider Award

• Tom Vaden, EMS Educator Award

• Charles Lean, EMS Administrator Award

• Michael Levy, MD, George H. Longenbaugh Memorial Award

• Hoonah Emergency Medical Services, Outstanding Ambulance Service Award

• Matt Jones, Special Commendation

ADVERTISEMENT