Shivangi Sinha
In September 2012, authorities in Kiana, Alaska, were searching for Teddy Kyle Smith after his mother, Dolly Smith, passed away in their home. Smith had given weird statements before fleeing the scene. Just days later, reports emerged that two men, Paul James and Charles Buckel, had been shot at a cabin near the remote Squirrel River and were in desperate need of help. Because of the location’s isolation, it took hours before rescuers reached the brothers and got them to safety. In Hulu’s ‘Blood & Myth,’ Paul recalled the ordeal, reflecting on the incident and calling their survival nothing short of a miracle.
Paul and Charles Buckel Were Shot on Their Hunting Trip to Alaska
Paul Buckel worked as a mechanic for the Lapeer County Road Commission in Michigan, and one of his favorite pastimes was hunting with his brother, Charles. Back in 2010, the two had traveled to Alaska on a moose hunt, and by September 2012, they returned with their sights set on a bear. Equipped with plenty of gear, they navigated the harsh Alaskan wilderness, where frigid temperatures, dense forests, and rough terrain made the journey grueling. On September 19, 2012, using an inflatable boat, they floated along the Squirrel River until exhaustion set in. Remembering a friend’s cabin nearby, they decided to stop and rest, unaware that someone else was already inside, and their visit was about to turn violently dangerous.
Paul recalled that when he first entered the cabin, he placed his radio on the table. Moments later, he and his brother, Charles, heard a noise and went to check. When Paul turned back, his radio was gone. That’s when Teddy Kyle Smith appeared and suddenly opened fire. Charles was shot in the chest, and as Paul tried to shield himself, another bullet tore through his arm, entering near the top and exiting around his elbow. Smith then fled with their inflatable boat and all their supplies, leaving the brothers stranded in a desolate area with no cell service and no one nearby. For nearly seven and a half hours, they endured their injuries before finally encountering someone who helped them call for assistance. They were eventually airlifted to a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, where they received critical care.
Paul and Charles Buckel Believe Their Rescue Was a Miracle
Charles Buckel’s wife rushed to be by his side, while the brothers’ family gathered in prayer, hoping for their survival. Thankfully, both men were stabilized and later returned home to Michigan to recover. In December 2014, Teddy Kyle Smith was convicted on multiple charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree robbery. Looking back, Paul has often described their survival as nothing short of a miracle. He admitted that the amount of blood he and Charles lost should have been fatal, and he still struggles to understand how they managed to endure long enough to be rescued.
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