On Aug. 5, 2022, Chris Brown was outside working on his jeep while his wife, Morgan, was inside their home in St. George, Utah.  She got a message from her father-in-law, Joe Brown. He wanted to know if they had insurance for their 6-year-old son, Hayden. Joe and his grandson were boating at Lake Powell. Confused, she told him yes and asked why. Joe told her, “A propeller got him.”

Hayden’s maternal grandmother, Betsey Carlson, is a registered nurse. She told the Chronicle that Hayden was standing on the front end of a pontoon boat operated by Joe. Another boat sped by, and its wake rocked the pontoon, causing Hayden to fall overboard. Hayden was pulled under the boat and his legs were caught by the pontoon motor’s propeller. One of the passengers on the boat dived in and pulled Hayden out of the water. 

Luckily, the grandfather had the boy put on his life jacket shortly before the accident, Carlson said.

Hayden was rescued by Classic Air Medical and taken by helicopter to Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital (PCH) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Classic’s crew for the rescue and transport was pilot Angela Robedeau, flight nurse Alyssa Edwards and paramedic Karl Knipp. 

“In early August of 2022 a 6 year old boy was on the lake and had a boating accident with extensive trauma caused by the prop,” Edwards wrote. “Angela, Karl, and I flew him from Antelope to Primary Children's where ultimately the severity of his injuries resulted in an amputation of his lower leg.” 

The Browns, concerned about the driving distance from St. George, asked Classic Air to bring Hayden to PCH in Salt Lake City rather than Phoenix as originally planned. 

“They called back and said they were able to get a good pass to go up to Salt Lake,” Morgan said.

 Classic Air kept the Browns updated throughout the rescue operation.

The Browns began their four-hour drive to Salt Lake City, not yet knowing the extent of Hayden’s injuries.

“I remember phone calls from all the surgeons who we were going to be dealing with there, and their assistants, and that was really hard because we want to ask all these questions, but they don’t know a whole lot yet either,” Morgan said. “I remember getting to the hospital and going in and he had already been in surgery for two hours.” 

The Browns waited another six hours in the waiting room. 

“They came and talked to us, and it was probably like 4:00 in the morning, 5:00 in the morning, so we’d been up just waiting and that’s when they came out,” Morgan said. “That’s when the real hard truth of the whole thing hit.”

Both of Hayden’s legs had extensive damage, but after many hours in the operating room, surgeons could only save one leg. They had no choice but to amputate his lower left leg below the knee. Through all the healing process, getting a new leg and learning how to use it, Hayden kept telling his family, "I am brave and I am strong."

“His family has continued to share his journey and recovery with me and I am amazed by this young boy's strength, courage, optimism, and enthusiasm for life,” Edwards wrote. “His mom requested that the crew that took care of him be reunited, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to get him a flight over the lake this summer. His first experience in a helicopter wasn't the best, but even then he was so brave and calm.”

Classic Air made that wish come true.

On July 12, 2023, Hayden, his parents and maternal grandmother drove from St. George to Page, Arizona. Hayden, big smile on his face, walked down the main hall of the Classic Air building and reunited with rescuers Robedeau, Edwards and Knipp. They gave each other hugs and chatted. 

The family sat for a videotaped interview for an Intermountain film crew, then went outside for the main event, a helicopter ride over Lake Powell for Hayden and his parents. While waiting for the helicopter, Hayden kept himself busy playing soccer with Chad Bowdre, Classic Air Medical marketing and communications manager. The two kept a small rubber ball in motion inside the maintenance hangar, occasionally chasing it when it went outside. He was doing what boys do – running, kicking a ball, having fun. 

Hayden got his helicopter ride and changed his life plans. Before the accident, he wanted to be a police officer. Now his mind is set on becoming a pilot.