81-year-old Wisconsin hunter injured, rescued by DNR during U.P. hunting trip

Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read
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It was just an ordinary hunting trip – until 81-year-old Ed Mongin of Coleman, Wisconsin, was almost paralyzed by a falling chunk of tree.

If it wasn't for the couple of conservation officers who came to the rescue, Mongin's freak accident may have ended a lot more tragic.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, here's how the story unfolded:

On Nov. 17, Mongin and a group of 10 others were hunting on federal land in Iron County, a county in the Upper Peninsula pressed right along the Michigan-Wisconsin border. The group was familiar with the area so they used radios to stay in communication as they went about their exploits, but when Mongin didn't answer an attempt to contact him, the hunters knew something had gone awry.

The group went to Mongin's hunting location and found that the top of a tree had been blown down in a windstorm and came crashing down on top of him, causing a severe head injury.

Shortly after, Michigan DNR conservation officer Alex VanWagner and probationary conservation officer Kyle Romzek received the report of an injured hunter from area dispatchers. They rushed out and met one of the hunters along Smoky Lake Road, about a mile from where Mongin lay in the woods. The hunter guided the two officers through the trees and muddy terrain to Mongin's location, where he was able to communicate that he believed himself to be paralyzed and that the officers would not be able to move him through the woods.

Wisconsin hunter Ed Mongin is rescued by Michigan DNR conservation officers, EMS personnel and his hunting group after suffering a severe head injury while hunting in Iron County, Michigan.
Wisconsin hunter Ed Mongin is rescued by Michigan DNR conservation officers, EMS personnel and his hunting group after suffering a severe head injury while hunting in Iron County, Michigan.

VanWagner and Romzek figured that an ambulance would be unable to traverse their swampy surroundings, so they met Aspirus Iron River Hospital EMS personnel back along Smoky Lake Road and transported them and their medical equipment on the back of their DNR patrol truck while members of the hunting group cleared trees to make a path to Mongin's location.

EMS and officers provided first-aid treatment to Mongin's head and possible spinal injuries before securely placing him on a backboard to be transported on the patrol truck back to the main road. Once on the road, VanWagner drove the ambulance to Aspirus Iron River Hospital so that both EMS workers could tend to Mongin, while Romzek followed the ambulance in the DNR patrol truck. Mongin was later transported via EMS MedEvac helicopter to a hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin, for further treatment.

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Doctors originally told Mongin's family that he may never walk again following head and vertebrae surgery, but only several days later, VanWagner was informed by Mongin's family members that he had regained mobility in all limbs, stood up for the first time and was able to have a conversation.

“Our camp members want to thank VanWagner and Romzek for their effort and professionalism,” said Mike Kinziger of Pound, Wisconsin, in an email to the DNR. “They responded in a very timely manner to a remote location. They not only coordinated with several members of the hunting party in a somewhat chaotic and stressful situation but worked hand-and-hand (sic) with the two EMS personnel out of Iron River.”

Mongin has since started rehab and physical therapy but his recovery is still considered a miracle – a big part in thanks to the conservation officers' fearless jump into action and quick-thinking.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wisconsin man, 81, saved by Michigan DNR after hunting trip injury