06/21/2025

Retired Firefighter Embraces a New Hobby

He now rescues hikers on mountain trails

John Zeto, Jr. thought he had put his career as a first responder behind him. But then he heard the echo of gunshots on an Arizona mountain trail.

Zeto followed the sound to a man asleep under a bush who had fired the bullets as a distress signal. Colt Johnson was out of water and suffering heatstroke, having accepted he was going to die.

Zeto approached and gave him water, then carried Johnson about three miles off the trail that May 2024 afternoon before driving Johnson’s car roughly 20 miles to the nearest store to buy him Gatorade. It likely saved Johnson’s life.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.