How Harrison Ford Became A Real-Life Hero For A Lost Boy Scout

Harrison Ford isn't just a hero on the big screen—he once saved a real-life lost boy scout using his own helicopter.

In an extraordinary turn of events, a 13-year-old boy named Cody Clawson found himself stranded in Yellowstone National Park.

But thanks to a survival skill he had learned in the Boy Scouts, he managed to signal for help—and his rescuer turned out to be none other than the legendary actor himself.

The year was 2001, and what started as an ordinary hiking trip quickly turned into a survival situation when Cody lost his way.

For 18 long hours, Cody was missing in the vast wilderness. Dressed in nothing but shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals, he had little protection against the rain and sleet that poured down overnight.

Seeking shelter, he huddled in a small cave to wait out the cold. After catching a few hours of sleep, he awoke to the sound of a helicopter flying overhead.

Little did he know, the pilot scanning the landscape was none other than Harrison Ford.

Ford took the boy to safety Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Thinking quickly, Cody used his belt buckle to reflect sunlight in the direction of the aircraft, desperately hoping someone would see the signal.

"I started looking for an open place that I could signal them," he later recalled.

"I used my belt buckle to reflect the sunlight."

Ford spotted the reflection, quickly landed his helicopter, and brought Cody aboard to fly him to the nearest search and rescue headquarters.

Recalling the moment he met Ford, Cody said he recognized the actor instantly from his voice.

"The way he said [hello] reminded me so much of his role of Han Solo in Star Wars. Then I was like, 'Oh my God, Han Solo has just rescued me. How cool is that?'"

"When we landed, Harrison Ford came over to me and said, 'Boy, you sure must have earned a merit badge for this one.' But I told him I'd already earned this badge last summer, and he laughed."

Ford rescued the boy scout in his helicopter Jason Kempin/Getty Images

For Cody, the experience not only saved his life but also changed the way he thought about celebrities.

"What he did gave me a different perspective on stars. They sometimes get portrayed as snobby people, but there really is good, generous people out there," he said.

"And to me Harrison Ford is one of those good people who we're lucky to have as an influence on our lives."

Ford proved to be a real life hero Paramount/Getty Images

When Cody later told his friends about his unbelievable adventure, they were quick to ask if he had gotten Ford’s autograph.

But for Cody, a signature wasn’t the most valuable takeaway from the experience.

He laughed and said: "The kids asked if I got an autograph but I told them, 'No, but I got a hug and a handshake, and that's better'."