A nice mountain hike is a cultural staple in certain parts of the country. Whether it's the Rockies, the Appalachian mountains, or even the Cascades, if there's mountains, people will hike 'em.
But it's really important to be safe and sound when you're doing so. Otherwise, you'll end up like Oscar-winning former Disney animator Glen Keane.
As reported by People, the 72-year-old had to be rescued by firefighters at the top of Mummy Mountain in Arizona. Phoenix firefighters had been made aware of an emergency at the top of the mountain at around 8am local time on Wednesday, July 29.
Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller explained that the award-winning animator had began feeling dizzy. He said that he could not walk down the mountain "without firefighters' help".
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The Oscar-Winning Disney Animator Opened Up
Keane opened up about his experience when talking to AZFamily. He explained that he knew something was wrong - "I knew that I really needed help," he recalled.
"I was being lifted up [in the helicopter], and I was looking at all the areas I used to climb around as a kid," he recounted. Keane was born in Philadelphia, but grew up in Arizona.
"And I thought, Lord, thank you, this was just a real blessing to have that crew," he explained. "And they were really risking their own lives on the edge of that narrow little ledge. I mean, it was very much just like a razor's edge up there."
The Phoenix Fire Department shared a video of the daring rescue. Take a look:
Who is Glen Keane?
You might not have heard of him, but you'll definitely have seen his work. He's known for playing a pretty key role in what's been coined as the "Disney Renaissance".
He has credits for: The Little Mermaid; The Rescuers Down Under; Beauty and the Beast; Aladdin; Pocahontas; and Tarzan. He also won an Oscar in 2018 alongside late actor Kobe Bryant. Their film Dear Basketball won in the category of "Best Animated Short Film".
The animator also served as a director for Netflix's 2020 Oscar-nominated Over the Moon.
