From Scott Thatcher on Facebook:
This seems like a great story to share with landowners. Maybe someone local could get a story in the media that people around the world could share when they're trying to obtain permission for events. Well done, Chase!
Good Story..........My son Chase was running his 15.3 K Ultralong Orienteering course on Sunday through Fountainhead Regional Park, Fairfax Station, VA when he came upon a seriously injured mountain biker. Another mountain biker called 911 while Chase withdrew from his course to get help. He met EMTs that were trying to find the injured mountain biker by GPS and led them directly to him and gave them his map. The terrain was so rough and remote that the rescue teams decided to take the injured biker out by boat on the river. Later EMT's said the it would have taken them twice as long to locate the biker without Chase's help. Way to go Chase! So proud of you! — with Chase Thatcher at Fountainhead Regional Park.
(I apologize if this has already been discussed elsewhere. I'm making a brief visit to this side of AP from my usual hiding place in the Adventure Racing forum!)
Wait, aren't you always posting in here?
No, but I'm always posting everywhere else on AP! :)
This is a great story! Any news articles about it?
Not that I know of - we didn't manage to attract any media or it would no doubt have featured prominently in any story they wrote. Regardless, thanks to Chase for rising to the occasion and doing the right thing despite competitive urges providing temptation to the contrary.
Where is he from? Given that the event happened a couple of weeks ago, maybe the proper avenue would be a press release to the media in his area - the "somewhat-embarrassed-by-all-the-attention local hero" story. Representatives from QOC and OUSA could be quoted expressing their admiration for his actions - and casually slipping in a comment about how orienteers are great to have around a park because of their unique skills. :) The Facebook post already has quotes from Chase's Dad and one of the emergency services crew. Ideally, a comment from park management and/or EMS would be great but there is enough already to write a press release that could be used by orienteers everywhere as positive PR for the sport.
'Chase Thatcher - orienteer to the rescue! '
This sounds real good for a TV mini-series
I can design a subtitle: "Chase Thatcher - the real Iron Lad"