A woman's scream that a child had fallen from the steep trail led Marc Ellison, a park ranger, to action that resulted in his receiving a Carnegie Medal for heroism.

Photo by Jennifer Ackerman/Deseret Morning News

Marc Ellison, with Paulina Filipova, whom he helped save, is recipient of Carnegie Medal for heroism.

Photo courtesy Kemmerer Gazette

Arden L. Humphreys and granddaughters, Amanda and Kaili, call Clifford Boyd a hero.

Photo courtesy Clifford Boyd

Clifford Boyd, recipient of Carnegie Medal for heroism.

Brother Ellison of the Hillcrest 3rd Ward, American Fork Utah Hillcrest Stake, and another Church member, Sgt. Clifford R. Boyd of the Kemmerer (Wyoming) 2nd Ward were among 19 individuals from throughout the United States and Canada recently named by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission as recipients of its prestigious bronze medal.

"The medal is awarded to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others," according to a press release from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. Since the Pittsburgh-based Fund's inception in 1904, more than 9,000 people have received the hero award created by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A massive coal mine disaster prompted him to establish a commission to recognize acts of civilian heroism.

But receiving accolades was the farthest thing from both men's minds when their actions led to saving lives.

A seasonal, part-time park ranger with the National Park Service, Brother Ellison was getting ready to conduct the last tour of the day at Timpanogos Cave in American Fork Canyon last Sept. 24 when a mother's scream pierced the air.

While running to the edge of the trail, Brother Ellison radioed for a rescue team and looked down to see 3-year-old Paulina Filippova on a short ledge some 75 feet down. The short ledge overlooked a 400-foot drop to the canyon floor. A friend of the Filippova family, Vitaly Tsikoza of Novosibirsk, Russia, had already fallen to his death attempting a rescue.

"From the vantage point, I knew it wouldn't be safe to go straight down," Brother Ellison said during a telephone interview. So he followed a line of trees down to where he was parallel to her, and then worked his way over. By this time, another tourist, Mickey Horak of Corpus Christi, Texas, had also worked his way to the frightened, bruised and bleeding child and was holding onto her.

Horak handed Paulina to the park ranger and sat with him while they waited for help. "It was an extremely steep slope," said Brother Ellison. "There was nothing to prevent us from going over."

After about two hours, a search and rescue crew arrived. A rescuer rappelled down to the three and took Paulina. Brother Ellison and the other man used the rope to climb up to the trail and then pulled the rescuer holding the child to safety. Paulina was treated at the hospital for lacerations.

Today, Brother Ellison, a father of six, an Eagle Scout and member of the district Scouting committee, is grateful for his years as a Scouter. "It definitely paid off, all the training, all preparatory for this event," he said.

Along with the Carnegie Medal, he also received the Scouting Honor Award from the National Boy Scouts Court of Honor. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission also named Mr. Tsikoza and Mr. Horak recipients of the Carnegie Medal.

For his part in a Wyoming rescue, Sgt. Clifford R. Boyd of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is quick to emphasize that all law enforcement officers and firefighters put their lives on the line every day. "They all do what it takes to take care of the citizens in our community. I'm not any more special."

Not according to Arden L. Humphreys, 78, of nearby Marbleton, Wyo. On Aug. 1, 2006, he was out fishing on Fontenelle Reservoir with his granddaughters, 7-year-old Kaili and 16-year-old Amanda, when their boat capsized some 150 to 200 yards offshore. No one saw them. Clinging to the bow of the boat, they waited through the night.

Then-Deputy Sheriff Boyd was called the next day about 5 a.m. to look for family members overdue from a fishing trip. Driving to the campground, he found the grandfather's truck and boat trailer parked by the boat ramp, but saw no sign of the fishers. Then he spied a white object in the reservoir. Using a spotting scope, he could see the boat — and movement.

Driving to the water's edge, he got out of his patrol truck. "Hold on," he yelled. "Search and rescue are on their way."

"I can't hold on any longer," the grandfather called back.

So the deputy sheriff, recovering from recent ear surgery, stepped into the cold water and swam about 150 yards to the boat.

"I asked Arden to grab the rope," said Brother Boyd. "He said he couldn't. His hands didn't work anymore."

So Brother Boyd swam to shore with Kaili. While climbing into the cab of the patrol truck, Kaili asked the deputy sheriff, "You're going to go get my grandpa, aren't you?"

"Yes, Kaili, I'm going to go get Grandpa."

By this time, another deputy had arrived. Brother Boyd used some empty water containers from the other officer's vehicle for buoyancy and swam back to the boat for Amanda. He then returned again for the grandfather. The wind-tossed reservoir prevented the other deputy from reaching the boat.

"I swam about 1,000 yards that day, and half of it hauling a person," now-Sgt. Boyd said. "I don't think I could possibly have had the strength to do that on my own. The priesthood and with Heavenly Father's help was the only way I believe I accomplished the task — and a simple prayer."

Since then, he has had complications with his ear — which his doctor had instructed him not to get wet. But he kept his promise to Kaili.

Brother Boyd was also honored with the Medal of Valor by the Wyoming Peace Officers Association.

E-mail to: julied@desnews.com