Fitness Trainer Praised For Carrying Injured Hiker More Than 2 Miles In Malibu

MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — A doctor-turned-fitness trainer in Beverly Hills started the new year as a hero.

Dan Reardon and his girlfriend were hiking on the Escondido Falls Trail in Malibu on New Year's day when they ran into a group of hikers. Among them was Mark Martinez who was limping.

"He was limping quite badly. He looked like he was in a lot of pain. He was quite pale and sweaty," said Reardon. "He had family members sort of help him move along. But it was quite clear that he was struggling."

It seemed too tough for Martinez to hobble, even with assistance. So Reardon offered to help. "So I sort of said: Look listen, why don't you jump on my back, and I'll try and carry you out of the hike and get you onto the main roads. At which point, Mark looked at me and thought I was crazy," Reardon recalled.

He carried the 280-pound Martinez on his back for 2.3 miles down the trail where paramedics were waiting to take Martinez to a hospital to be treated for a broken ankle and shattered fibula.

"I think he was in shock, first of all, that I was able to carry him on my back. He was very grateful to have got to the paramedics to have got to the hospital," said Reardon who is the CEO of the fitness company FitnessGenes based in the United Kingdom and a former emergency-room doctor in the U.K.

Reardon's girlfriend, Dina Zaky, said they wanted to call for help at first, but there was no service. So she ran down to the main road hoping to get service there, but still to no avail. Zaky then ran to the nearest home and borrowed a phone to call for help. By the time paramedics arrived, Reardon had already carried Martinez down the trail, Zaky said.

The doctor said the experience brought him and his girlfriend new friends in the new year.

"We were able to help out someone who needed our help. And hopefully, we've demonstrated a positive message of getting fit in 2016, get stronger in 2016," Reardon said.