OGDEN — Division of Wildlife Resources Sergeant Mitch Lane responded to a lightning strike during the 2012 Utah dove hunt, saving the lives of two hunters.

Mitch Lane, a sergeant with the Division of Wildlife Resources, recently received a Medal of Valor for saving the life of a young hunter who had been struck by lightning.

Photo by Robin Cahoon

For his actions, Lane has received a Medal of Valor from the Utah Peace Officers Association (UPOA).

While patrolling the Rail Trail in Plain City last September, Lane spotted two hunters, ages 30 and 13, trying to reach their vehicle during a downpour. The two were struck by lightning a few hundred feet from the parking lot.

Lane ran to them and found that the boy was in cardiac arrest. With help from Weber County Sherriff's Deputy Ryan Read, Lane administered CPR and got the boy breathing, then helped the hunters to safety. Both of the hunters have since made full recoveries.

Sgt. Jason Talbot of the Weber County Sheriff's Office was impressed by Sgt. Lane's actions. "The conditions were really dangerous...Mitch saw it happen and was able to perform CPR right away," Talbot said in an article in the Standard-Examiner newspaper.

Deputy Read also received a Medal of Valor for his role in the rescue.

Sgt. Lane has worked in wildlife law enforcement for 20 years. He and Read received their awards at the UPOA's Midwinter Conference in St. George. The awards ceremony was held on Feb. 7.