Escaping the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption: KOMO News photographer shares story of survival

FROM THE ARCHIVES: On May 18, 1980, KOMO News Photographer Dave Crockett was caught in the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Afraid he would miss out on the story of a lifetime, Crockett woke up at 3 a.m. and knew he had to go, calling it “a hunch.”

When he arrived, the side of Mount St. Helens collapsed and the massive eruption began. He was confused at first, then awe-struck, frightened and exhilarated at the same time. And then the mountain came after him with a churning flood of boulders, trees and mud. There was a wild race through the valley: Crockett in his news car against a 30-foot wall of death.

But there was no outrunning it, so he turned up an old logging road. There was one spot in the whole valley that wasn't destroyed. It was the spot where Crockett's news car came to a stop. By now, the sky above the Mercury Monarch was a furious, seething vision of rage. Crockett left a note on the hood of the car and took off on foot.

Crockett let his cameras roll as he struggled amid the choking ash and nearly pitch-black skies to stumble to survival in what is perhaps the most iconic footage of the eruption.

"Dear God, whoever finds this," he said as only a sliver of light is visible. "You can't see this, I'm sure it's too dark, but I left the car behind. As you can tell probably from this picture, I'm walking towards the only light I can see at the top of a ridge."

Crockett maintained a soft voice, but you can sense his desperation as he describes the scene around him while filming.

"I never really thought I'd believe this or say this, but at this moment, I honest to God believe I'm dead."

Crockett continued to narrate as the last bit of light disappeared.

"I can feel the ash now in my eyes. It's getting very hard to breath. I'm having trouble talking. This is Hell on Earth I'm walking through."

Miraculously, he made it out alive.

On May 19, 1980, the day after the eruption, Crockett spoke with KOMO anchor Ed Lenderman detailing his experience and remarkable story of survival.
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For more on the story: https://komonews.com/features/komo-anniversary/mount-saint-st-helens-eruption-photographer-dave-crockett-survival-story-news-coverage-western-washington-volcano-erupted-disaster-emergency
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Дата на публикация: 19 май, 2025
Категория: Новини
Ключови думи: The of survival St. Story news Shares mount 1980 Escaping Eruption photographer Helens KOMO