79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day

A 79-year-old broke her ankle after scattering her mom’s ashes, but then strangers saved the day.

She called rescuers angels from heaven. We call them heroes who were in the right place at the right time. Ursula Bannister, an experienced hiker from Tacoma, Washington, faced an unimaginable challenge when she broke and dislocated her ankle on the High Rock trail. 

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Ursula Stepped Into a Hole 

Ursula went to visit where her mother’s ashes were scattered, something she does every year. But this visit didn’t go as planned. What started as a peaceful visit became a nightmare in a matter of seconds, and all it took was one misstep. Ursula had stepped into a hole and broke her leg. She panicked, not knowing how she was going to help.

“By the time I sat up, my foot was pointing the wrong way. I knew right away I had broken my leg,” she recalled. “I tried to get up with my hiking pole and it collapsed on me.”

That’s when her “angels in disguise” appeared. U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Troy May and his friend Layton Allen stumbled upon Ursula in her time of need. "I just happened to be at the right time to do it that day,” Troy said.

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Troy Carried Her On His Back 

“It seemed like a miracle. It was like angels had descended from the sky,” Ursula said.

Despite the steep 1.6-mile trail ahead, Troy and Layton knew the sooner they got her help, the better Ursula’s chances would be. So, for three hours, Troy carried her on his back. They walked and shared stories to keep Ursula distracted from the pain. She was incredibly grateful for their compassion and heroic efforts to get her the help she needed. When she arrived at the hospital, Ursula learned she had broken her leg in three places requiring a plate and about ten screws to help her leg heal. In spite of her injuries, she cares more about the strangers who stopped to help her that day. 

What began as a harrowing day of pain and uncertainty ended with an extraordinary act of compassion and strength. And she is so thankful for her angel friends. "We’ll be friends for a really long time," she said, proving how ordinary people can become extraordinary heroes when it matters most.

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Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

WATCH: 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day

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h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/WKBT News 8 Now

Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.