Harrison Ford is best known for portraying daring heroes on the big screen, from the fearless adventurer Indiana Jones to the legendary Han Solo in Star Wars. But in a remarkable turn of events, the Hollywood icon once stepped into a heroic role in real life, rescuing a lost 13-year-old Boy Scout stranded in Yellowstone National Park.
The incredible rescue happened in 2001 when Cody Clawson, a young scout, found himself disoriented and lost in the vast wilderness of the national park. Clad in nothing but a T-shirt, shorts, and sandals, he was woefully unprepared for the sudden shift in weather that brought freezing rain and sleet.
Realizing he needed to take shelter, Cody stumbled upon a small cave, where he huddled for warmth, waiting for the storm to pass. Hours turned into a long and nerve-wracking night, but what he didn’t know was that his fate was about to take an unexpected Hollywood twist.
The next morning, Cody awoke to the distant sound of a helicopter cutting through the sky. His heart raced—this could be his only chance for rescue. Relying on a lifesaving skill he had learned in the Boy Scouts, he quickly pulled off his belt buckle and began using it to reflect the sunlight, hoping to catch the pilot’s attention.
What Cody didn’t realize in that moment was that the helicopter belonged to Harrison Ford himself.
The Hollywood star, who has long been an aviation enthusiast and a volunteer search-and-rescue pilot, was in the area assisting with operations when he spotted the flickering glint of light coming from below. Realizing it was an emergency signal, he immediately maneuvered the helicopter to get a closer look.
Once Ford identified Cody as a stranded hiker, he swiftly landed the aircraft and rushed to his aid. The 13-year-old, overwhelmed with relief, climbed aboard, still unaware that his rescuer was none other than the actor who played Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
As the helicopter lifted off and began its journey back to the search and rescue headquarters, Cody heard Ford’s voice say “Hello.”
Instantly, something clicked in his mind—the voice was unmistakable. It sounded just like Han Solo from Star Wars. That was when it hit him. He had just been saved by one of the most famous action stars in the world.
“The way he said ‘hello’ reminded me so much of his role as Han Solo,” Cody later recalled. “And then I was like, ‘Oh my God, Han Solo has just rescued me. How cool is that?’”
But Ford wasn’t done adding to the surreal nature of the experience. When they landed safely, the actor turned to Cody with a grin and said, “Boy, you sure must have earned a merit badge for this one.”
Cody, still in awe of what had just happened, responded with a smile of his own, “Actually, I earned that badge last summer.” Ford laughed, clearly impressed by the young scout’s resilience.
The entire encounter left a lasting impact on Cody, not just because he had been saved by a Hollywood legend, but because it changed the way he viewed celebrities altogether.
“What he did gave me a different perspective on stars,” Cody reflected. “They sometimes get portrayed as snobby or unapproachable, but there really are good, generous people out there. And to me, Harrison Ford is one of those good people—we’re lucky to have him as an influence.”
Of course, when he returned home, the story spread like wildfire among his friends. Their first question?
“Did you get his autograph?”
Cody chuckled as he told them, “No, but I got a hug and a handshake, and that’s even better.”
Harrison Ford’s off-screen heroism has become legendary in its own right. He has been known to use his piloting skills to assist in real-life rescue missions multiple times, proving that his courageous spirit extends far beyond movie sets.
While many admire him for his unforgettable performances in Indiana Jones and Star Wars, for one young Boy Scout, Harrison Ford will forever be remembered not as a Hollywood star, but as the real-life hero who saved his life in Yellowstone.