Kevin Diepenbrock calls it "divine intervention." He crashed his motorcycle on a section of Highway 129 called the 'Dragon,' and fell more than 100 feet down an embankment. His friend, Phil Polito did not survive the crash.
There was no cell phone service, and no one could hear his cries for help until more than 24 hours later.
Diepenbrock has been in the hospital recovering, but on Sunday he was able to meet the man who came to his rescue first.
Joshua Johnson drove up from Alabama to visit with Diepenbrock. The two hugged, shook hands and talked for awhile about the day they met.
Diepenbrock told Johnson he was a glimmer of hope in the middle of the woods that day.
"I can't express to you how much, once you came down there and started talking to me and got you my wife's phone number and stuff and how much relief that gave me," Diepenbrock said as he thanked Johnson.
Johnson was riding his motorcycle on the 'Dragon' when he came across some debris in the roadway which made him curious.
He looked down the edge and saw Diepenbrock but wasn't sure he was alive.
When he got to Diepenbrock and realized he was alive, he said he was determined to get him out safely.
"He was coming out of there one way or another. I already had like five different plans on how he was coming out and one of them was going to work," he added.
With the help of the Blount County Fire Department and several strangers, Diepenbrock was brought to safety and immediately taken to the hospital.
Diepenbrock is hoping to go home this upcoming week to continue to heal from his injuries. He's thankful to be alive and be back with his family.
