Skip navigation

Family of hiker who died sues survival school

‘He was made to die,’ family's lawyer says of 29-year-old

IMAGE: DAVE BUSCHOW
Jessica Large / via AP
Dave Buschow poses in this 2005 photo taken in Peterskill, N.Y., that was released by his mother, Pat Large.
Video: Crime & courts  
Officials search desecrated cemetery
  July 12: As the grim task of hunting for human remains continues, hundreds of distraught families and friends gathered for a vigil at the Illinois graveyard. NBC’s Michelle Franzen reports.

  On the run

The U.S. Marshals want your help finding their "15 Most Wanted" fugitives, a notorious list of suspects fleeing everything from murder and robbery to child sex charges. To date, about 200 of the fugitives profiled on the list have been found. Tips leading to an arrest are rewarded up to $25,000. Click here to see the fugitives. 

Text alerts on msnbc.com

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 8:08 p.m. ET May 4, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY - The parents of a New Jersey hiker who died of thirst during a survival course sued the school and its guides Friday, claiming negligence in a risky expedition in the hot Utah desert.

Dave Buschow, 29, showed signs of extreme distress but was not offered emergency water by staff during the second day of a 28-day expedition in which 12 campers had few essentials last July. He died of dehydration.

The Associated Press this week detailed how Buschow was desperate and delusional in 100-degree weather long before he collapsed.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Buschow's parents, Patricia Herbert of River Vale, N.J., and Brad Buschow of Tafton, Pa., sued Boulder Outdoor Survival School and four employees, including Shawn O'Neal, the guide who was with Buschow when he dropped less than 100 yards from a pool of water in Garfield County.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Salt Lake City seeks unspecified financial damages.

"He paid to experience wilderness. Instead of learning how to survive on his own, he was made to die," said S. Brook Millard, a lawyer for the family.

Click for related content

The Colorado-based school, known as BOSS, has denied any negligence and instead blamed Buschow, saying the security officer and former Air Force airman did not read course materials, may have withheld health information and may have eaten too heavily before arriving for the grueling course.

A lawyer for the school said Friday he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

BOSS filed a lawsuit in the same court in January, asking a judge to uphold liability waivers signed by Buschow when he applied for the course. There has been no progress in that case.

"Mr. Buschow expressly assumed the risk of serious injury or death prior to participating," the school's lawsuit said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored LinksGet listed here
Online College Courses
Boost your career with an online Degree. Pick from Leading Colleges!
www.EarnMyDegree.com

Sponsored links

Resource guide