Granddad Heroic After Being Shot

A Canyon County man out camping with his grandson managed to get the child to safety before the man died from an accidental gunshot wound, the family says.

Johnnie Burtchett was target shooting with a .357 Magnum revolver last Friday in the mountains near Ola when he dropped the gun and it went off.

The bullet hit him in the side and penetrated both lungs.

Despite the wound, Burtchett locked up his camper trailer, put his grandson Rodney Janes and his dog in his pickup and drove to a nearby campsite where he left the boy and dog.

Two other campers then began driving him to the hospital in Emmett.

His family said Burtchett died before they reached town.

“He shouldn’t have been able to do anything,” his wife, Janet, said.

“We would like very much to thank” the campers who helped.