Hunter who broke both legs in the wilderness wrote goodbye letter to his wife and kids then prepared for suicide - but he changed his mind and crawled for FOUR DAYS to safety
- John Sain was injured last week after he strayed from the Jackson Creek Trail in order to track an elk and a log fell on his leg
- The 50-year-old was miles from the trail, didn't have cellphone service and was in so much pain that he briefly considered suicide
- He changed his mind after writing a letter to his wife and kids and was able to crawl towards a trail where he was saved by motorcyclists
A hunter who crawled for days after breaking his leg in rugged central Idaho is recovering in a Boise hospital and says his love for his family gave him strength and prevented him from committing suicide.
John Sain was tracking an elk alone in remote wilderness near McCall last week when his foot slipped between two logs and he fell.
The accident broke both of the bones in Sain's lower leg, leaving him badly injured and unable to walk.
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Miraculous survival: John Sain (center), a hunter who crawled for days after breaking his leg in rugged central Idaho is recovering in a Boise hospital and says his love for his family (pictured) gave him strength
Rescued: This is a a photo of John after rescue crews came to his aid after the severely injured hunter flagged down some motorcyclists for help after days of being stranded in the wilderness
'I honestly didn't think I was going to make it out,' said Sain, a Darby, Montana, native who lives in Riverside, California.
The 50-year-old was miles from the trail, didn't have cellphone service and was in a lot of pain. He briefly considered suicide, Sain said.
'Contemplated on just ending it right there honestly,' he told NBC.
But he changed his mind after writing goodbye letters to his wife and kids. Sain made a splint out of sticks and ripped cloth and began the arduous crawl.
He had a little food, a water purifier and a small survival kit, and he built a fire each night for warmth. But on Sunday - four days after his ordeal began - Sain was dehydrated, in pain and starting to break down. That's when two motorcyclists found him and summoned emergency crews.
A McCall firefighter told KTVB that people used chainsaws to clear the way for Life Flight to land in the dense wilderness.
'Thank God. I was praying the whole way that it would happen and it did. My prayers were answered for sure,' Sain said.
Supportive: Sain's wife, Jennifer Sain (pictured), and their two kids flew to Boise to be with him. 'It was hard just knowing that he's out in the hills just trying to stay alive,' Jennifer Sain said
Broken: Sain was flown to a Boise hospital, where he is expected to stay for a few more days while he recovers from surgery on his damaged leg
The motorcyclists chopped down some trees to clear a landing space for an air ambulance.
Sain was flown to a Boise hospital, where he is expected to stay for a few more days while he recovers from leg surgery.
Sain's wife, Jennifer Sain, and their two kids flew to Boise to be with him.
'It was hard just knowing that he's out in the hills just trying to stay alive,' Jennifer Sain said.
'It still doesn't seem real to me, Jennifer added.
Jennifer said her husband is an experienced hunter who often hunts alone.
He plans to go hunting alone again - but not without a satellite phone or GPS locator.
'He's hanging in there,' Jennifer told The Press Enterprise.
'The hardest part is seeing him struggle. He's trying to get back to normal and just trying to recuperate from this.'
Survival skills: Sain says he survived only after he made a splint out of sticks and ripped cloth and began the arduous crawl
Outdoors: Sain is an experienced hunter who often hunts alone. He plans to go hunting alone again, but not without a satellite phone or GPS locator
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