Dylan McCaffrey, brothers play role of hero

3/9/2018

ANN ARBOR — The old adage of being in the right place at the right time rings true for Dylan McCaffrey and his NFL-playing brothers, Christian and Max.

The brothers were in their home state of Colorado over the weekend when 72-year-old Dan Smoker fell some 20 feet down the side of a huge boulder in Castle Rock. Smoker was climbing with his 13-year old grandson, Elijah Smoker, when the incident happened.

The McCaffreys and a handful of other witnesses quickly sprang into action.

"It was such a crazy experience," Elijah Smoker told KDVR in Denver. "But the McCaffreys changed how the story went. I can't thank them enough."

The brothers kept Elijah calm, called for help, and helped stabilize Dan, who suffered a series of life-threatening injuries, including a broken neck, internal bleeding from his abdomen and brain, nine broken ribs, and a fractured femur and pelvis. The CBS Evening News reported Wednesday that Smoker is expected to make a full recovery and he was reunited with his grandson at the hospital.

Dan Smoker’s son, also named Dan, thanked the McCaffreys on Twitter, writing, “Yesterday, they helped save my dad’s life after he fell off of Castle Rock. They comforted my son when he was alone. Then showed up to the hospital to check in. This @OhioStateFB fan may be torn come November 24.”

Contact Kyle Rowland at krowland@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @KyleRowland.