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Rescue workers honored for actions after snow buried 3 children

251 views · Published 11 March 2017 · 1:57 · Indexed 19 October 2026

Channel: East Idaho News · 2017 · News & Politics

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ASHTON -- A Fremont County EMT and a Sheriff's deputy were honored by the American Red Cross for their heroic actions in trying to save three children buried in snow last winter.

"It’s a bittersweet story," Fremont County EMT Greg Walker recalls, choking back tears.  "You always wonder - it could have been me.  It could have been my family."

Walker was the first emergency responder to arrive at an Island Park cabin Feb. 26, 2016 after a massive amount of snow suddenly slid off a roof burying three young girls.

Fremont County Sheriff deputy Tom Smith arrived minutes after Walker.

"When you respond to an incident with children involved, it’s bad," Smith tells EastIdahoNews.com.  "I just jumped down in the snow hole and started digging with my hands."

He, along with Walker and others, frantically dug through the eight-foot pile of snow.

"It was like avalanche snow - so compacted and difficult to dig in," Walker says.

Eventually, cousins Tessa and Ava Merrill, both 7, were found and pulled out but 3-year-old Halle Merrill was still buried.

"We just kept digging for the third but I couldn’t find her," Smith recalls.  "It seemed forever.  It was just a few minutes but, oh man, it was tough."

After more than 30 minutes, Halle was found without a pulse and not breathing. She was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where she died with her parents by her side.

"It took me probably three months to get over," Smith says.  "I had dreams just about every month.  I have a grandson about Halle’s age so it hit me hard."

Smith and Walker were honored by the Fremont County Commissioners last March for their heroic actions.

The American Red Cross of Greater Idaho learned about the ordeal and selected Smith and Walker as "East Idaho Real Heroes."  They were both presented with awards last week at a luncheon in Idaho Falls.

"I’ll accept this award on behalf of all the heroes that were there that night," Smith says.  "It wasn't just me."

Walker adds, "Everyone on the entire crew and everybody that helped out deserves to be honored as a hero.  It’s amazing that we saved two of them and it’s so sad that we lost one."

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