Academy Award-winning Disney animator Glen Keane, 72, visited Phoenix Fire Station 12 to personally thank the members of the Phoenix and Tempe fire departments who rescued him from Mummy Mountain, according to Azfamily. The rescue took place on July 29 after Keane became ill, overheated, and unable to make his way back down during a hike in triple-digit heat with his daughter and grandchildren.
Disney Animator Glen Keane Thanks Rescuers After Mummy Mountain Hike
Keane, who grew up in the area, said he wanted to show his family the trails he used to hike as a boy. His father was Bil Keane, the creator of the The Family Circus
comic strip. While his grandchildren and daughter navigated the trail back down safely, Keane reached a rocky ridge and realized he could not cross the next gap.
I think it’s probably the most difficult thing for somebody to say, ‘I can’t. I need help,’
Keane told Nypost. And I got to that point, and I was just so thankful that there was somebody that I could call.
The Rescue Operation on Mummy Mountain
When emergency calls came in, fire trucks arrived from both sides of the mountain with sirens blaring, and rescue crews climbed up the steep quartz and mica rock. Phoenix and Tempe fire crews located Keane and hoisted him safely from the mountaintop using a helicopter before flying him to a nearby landing zone to be checked by paramedics.
Phoenix Fire Captain Patrick O’Neill noted that rescuers had no idea who they were helping while on the mountain.
We didn’t know who you were on the mountain. We didn’t find out till like several hours later,
O’Neill said, according to Fox10phoenix. O’Neill added that his crews had 16 to 20 personnel operating in 108-degree heat.
The rescue aircraft involved was the Phoenix Police Department’s Firebird
chopper, which was subsequently placed out of service for several weeks for out-of-state repairs, as reported by Abc15.
A Token of Gratitude From a Disney Legend
To express his appreciation, Keane presented Station 12 with an original illustration depicting his airlift from the mountain. The artwork features first responders, helicopters, and the inscription, Our family helping your family.
Keane is the legendary animator behind numerous classic characters, including Ariel in The Little Mermaid,
the Beast in Beauty and the Beast,
Aladdin, Tarzan, and Pocahontas. He also won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 2018 for Dear Basketball,
created alongside the late Kobe Bryant.
Reflecting on the experience, Keane contrasted his fictional cinematic work with the real-life dangers faced by first responders.
Normally, you know, I’m drawing the Little Mermaid, Aladdin, the Beast, Tarzan, Pocahontas, all these characters and they are heroes,
Keane said. I was thinking, ‘Oh, maybe I should draw Aladdin flying here or something.’ I said, ‘No, no, no. This is not about me. You guys are the heroes. There’s no fairytales to this. You are risking your lives and this is not animation. This is real life.’
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