Two Utah parole agents, Nick Parker and Kelten Larsen, rescued two unconscious men and later returned to save two cats and a dog after discovering a carbon monoxide leak in a Carbon County home. Both officers experienced symptoms of CO exposure while carrying victims outside, then credited arriving emergency responders for help getting the victims to safety. Investigators say a generator running inside the house likely caused the dangerous leak, and the two men were taken to hospital for treatment.
‘Right Place, Right Time’: Utah Parole Officers Rescue Two Men and Three Pets From Carbon Monoxide Leak
The home filled with carbon monoxide in Carbon County, UtahCredit: KSL News Utah/Youtube
Two Utah Department of Corrections parole agents risked their own safety to pull two unconscious men to safety and then return to rescue three pets after discovering a carbon monoxide emergency in Carbon County.
According to a Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) Facebook post and local media reports, Adult Probation & Parole agents Nick Parker and Kelten Larsen were making routine field visits on April 28 when they heard an emergency radio dispatch about a man in distress. They drove to the address and were first on scene.
Inside the home they found two men in their 30s unresponsive in a hallway. The officers began to render aid but soon experienced troubling symptoms themselves — including chest and lung tightness, muscle fatigue, numb fingertips and lips, and disorientation — signs later attributed to carbon monoxide exposure.
Despite feeling ill, Parker and Larsen persisted. With the help of other emergency responders who arrived on scene, they dragged both men outside to safety and had them transported to a hospital for treatment. The agents then re-entered the house and rescued two cats and a dog that were also suffering from exposure.
Utah officials, including Department of Corrections patrol officers Nick Parker and Kelten LarsenCredit: Utah Department of Corrections/Facebook
Investigators later determined that a generator had been running inside the home, a likely source of a dangerous carbon monoxide leak. UDC and the officers credited the coordinated efforts of multiple responders for the successful rescue.
Voices From the Scene
“Anyone in this profession would have done the same thing,” Parker told ETV News. “It was right place, right time.”
Larsen recalled, “I started feeling it in my chest and lungs, with heavier breathing [and] muscle fatigue. I wasn't able to pull the guy out like I should have been able to.”
Both officers said the emotional impact of the rescue hit them afterward when they realized they had helped preserve people’s lives and families. They also praised the other emergency personnel whose quick response was critical to the outcome.
Safety Note
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly. Generators and other fuel-burning equipment should never be used indoors or in enclosed spaces. If you suspect CO exposure, get fresh air immediately and call emergency services.
Reporting: UDC Facebook post; local coverage by KSL-TV 5 and ETV News.
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