Disney animator Glen Keane, known for work on The Little Mermaid and Tangled, thanked the Arizona rescue crews who pulled him off Mummy Mountain after a hiking emergency in the heat. A week after the mountaintop rescue, the 72-year-old artist said he wanted to meet the first responders face to face and show his gratitude for getting him to safety.
Keane told KPNX in Phoenix that reaching the point where he had to ask for help was difficult, but he was relieved to have someone to call. He said he viewed the episode as a real-life version of the animated stories he helped create, and he wanted to see the crew responsible for the rescue. He also brought the department a hand-drawn tribute showing the first responders and helicopters, along with the words “Our family helping your family.”
He said he could not simply move on without thanking the people who responded. The gesture underscored how much the rescue meant to him and his family after the dangerous climb. Keane’s comments reflected both humility and appreciation for the fast action that brought the situation under control.
The rescue took place on July 29, when Keane was hiking Arizona’s Mummy Mountain with his grandchildren and realized he needed help. A helicopter was called in, and he was lifted from the mountaintop and flown to a nearby landing zone. His daughter and grandchildren were able to make their way back down the trail safely on their own.
Keane, who has spent decades animating memorable scenes in major Disney films, said the experience was far more intense than anything he had drawn on screen. He pointed to the dramatic endings of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, and Aladdin, saying real-life self-sacrifice was something else entirely. The contrast between fantasy and reality gave the rescue a personal meaning that went beyond a routine emergency call.
