McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor

What began as an ordinary evening at home quickly turned into a medical emergency that would ultimately claim the life of 51-year-old Dennis Hungerford, leaving behind a grieving family, a devastated hockey community, and growing questions about emergency medical transport capabilities in western North Dakota.

Dennis Hungerford died on June 9, after suffering what medical records indicate was a severe cardiac event involving a blood clot near his heart.

While his family acknowledges the efforts made by emergency department staff at McKenzie Health, they are now seeking answers regarding the hours-long delay in transporting him to a higher level of cardiac care.

The tragedy has also sparked broader questions about ambulance availability, air medical transport resources, and emergency response planning in one of North Dakota’s most rural regions.

According to Dennis’ son, Zain Hungerford, 15, the family was outside unloading sheets of plywood on the evening of June 9. The plywood was being used for hockey training and preparations ahead of forecasted severe weather.

While working outside, Zain noticed his father suddenly clutching his chest and appearing uncomfortable.

At first, the family believed the discomfort might have been caused by physical exertion. Dennis walked inside, drank water, and attempted to rest. However, his condition continued to worsen.

“He kept grabbing his chest,” Zain recalled.
Dennis’ wife, Mary-Grace, quickly realized the situation was becoming serious. The family decided to drive immediately to the emergency room at McKenzie Health.
Although Dennis was able to walk to the vehicle under his own power, his condition deteriorated significantly during the drive.

By the time they arrived at the hospital shortly before 6:30 p.m., he could no longer stand on his own and required assistance into a wheelchair before being taken into the emergency department.
“It was more and more telling that something was seriously wrong,” she told The Farmer.

Four-and-a-Half Hours
Hospital records provided to The Farmer indicate Dennis arrived at the emergency department at approximately 6:30 p.m. complaining of chest pain.
Within minutes, medical staff recognized the severity of the situation.

At 6:37 p.m., an EKG reportedly showed evidence of a STEMI, or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, (The American Heart Association defines STEMI as a severe form of heart attack caused by the complete blockage of a coronary artery, leading to significant myocardial ischemia. It is characterized by specific changes on an electrocardiogram (EKG), which are crucial for diagnosis and timely treatment). Documentation also referenced likely left atrial enlargement and concerns regarding a clot near the heart.

Medical staff contacted a cardiologist at Trinity Health in Minot and obtained acceptance for transfer to a facility capable of providing the specialized cardiac intervention Dennis required.
Family members say Dennis remained alert and coherent during this time.
Hospital staff began treatment with nitroglycerin and morphine. Although his pain level improved from approximately 9 out of 10, to 6 out of 10, the underlying medical emergency remained unresolved.

The treatment he ultimately needed was not available locally and challenges with transport began.
At 7:05 p.m., hospital staff contacted Sidney Care Flight to request air ambulance transportation.

According to records, severe weather conditions prevented immediate flights either east to Minot or west toward Billings. The flight service advised they would reassess conditions and provide an update at approximately 8:00 p.m.
At 7:22 p.m., staff contacted McKenzie County Ambulance Service to determine whether a ground transfer was possible.

The ambulance service reportedly advised that its available crew was already committed to another transport and would not return for several hours.
The situation created a difficult dilemma.

The nearest tertiary cardiac care centers capable of performing advanced interventions are approximately 100 to 140 miles from Watford City. While Dennis remained under treatment in the emergency department, transportation to definitive care could not immediately be arranged.

Hospital documentation later noted there was a “significant delay given severe thunderstorm and tornado watch precluding flight and McKenzie County EMS crew several hours out of town on transfer.”

As transport arrangements remained unresolved, Dennis and his family waited.
Zain said they watched hockey while waiting in the patient room. One of the teams playing happened to be his father’s favorite, the Vegas Golden Knights.

Despite medication, Dennis continued experiencing pain and discomfort.
“He was groaning a lot,” Zain recalled.
Zain said he tried to keep his father awake as they waited.

During one conversation, Dennis shared words that now carry profound significance for his son.
“Take care of and protect your mom,” Dennis reportedly told him. “Chase and follow your dreams.”

Those would become some of the final meaningful words exchanged between father and son.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., more than three hours after Dennis arrived at the hospital, a McKenzie County Ambulance crew arrived at the emergency department.

Just minutes later, at 10:05 p.m., Sidney Care Flight reportedly advised that weather conditions had improved and flight operations could proceed. Their estimated arrival time was approximately 20 minutes.

Before the aircraft could arrive, Dennis’ condition rapidly deteriorated.
At 10:11 p.m., hospital records indicate his cardiac rhythm changed to ventricular tachycardia, a potentially fatal heart rhythm.

While staff assessed him, Dennis became unresponsive.
At 10:22 p.m., emergency personnel initiated CPR. Both manual chest compressions and an automated compression device were utilized.
Medical staff attempted defibrillation five times.
No sustained rhythm was restored.
“For 25-26 minutes, they did CPR on him, and then they came and got us,” recalled Mary-Grace.

A physician informed Mary-Grace and Zain of the situation and brought them back to Dennis’ room while resuscitation efforts continued.

Mary-Grace said she pleaded with medical staff not to stop.
She asked them to continue for five more minutes, she said the staff honored that request.
At 10:47 p.m., hospital personnel contacted Sidney Care Flight and cancelled the transport request because death appeared imminent.

At 10:55 p.m., approximately four-and-a-half hours after arriving at the emergency department, Dennis Hungerford was pronounced dead.
“It was too long, I don’t understand how they could wait that long. I got him there early, so they could help him,” Mary-Grace told Farmer Editor, Patrice Bumstead.

Questions About Available
Resources
The family’s grief has evolved into a search for answers.
Hospital records identify weather and ambulance availability as major factors contributing to delays in transport. However, subsequent information received by The Farmer has raised additional questions.

Information obtained during the newspaper’s investigation indicated a Guardian Flight fixed-wing medical aircraft was reportedly based at the Watford City airport during the time frame of the emergency.

Family members and community members have questioned whether additional air medical resources were explored and whether multiple providers were contacted as transportation options became limited.

Questions have also emerged regarding mutual aid ambulance resources from neighboring districts, contingency plans during long-distance transports, and whether sufficient emergency medical coverage exists when local ambulance crews are unavailable.
The investigation remains ongoing.

Guardian Flight Responds
In response to questions regarding aircraft availability and operations in the region, Guardian Flight provided a statement explaining its western North Dakota operations.

According to the company, its medical crews are based in Williston while a fixed-wing aircraft is housed at the Watford City airport due to infrastructure limitations in Williston.
Guardian Flight stated that the arrangement does not affect response times because the approximately nine-minute flight from Watford City to Williston corresponds with the time needed for medical crews to prepare and reach the aircraft.

The company also noted that multiple air medical providers serve western North Dakota and that decisions regarding which provider is requested are made at the local level.
Guardian Flight stated it remains committed to working collaboratively with hospitals, EMS agencies, and communities to support access to care throughout the region.

McKenzie Health Addresses
Rural Challenges
McKenzie Health CEO Pete Edis also responded to questions surrounding the incident.
Edis stated the hospital has no contractual relationship with air ambulance providers and does not control aircraft locations, crew assignments, dispatch protocols, staffing, or flight operations.

According to Edis, McKenzie Health’s responsibility is to assess and stabilize patients while arranging medically appropriate transportation.
The transportation provider then determines whether aircraft, crews, and other resources are available.
Edis also emphasized the unique realities of rural healthcare.

Watford City is located significant distances from tertiary care centers that provide specialized services such as cardiac catheterization, open-heart surgery, neurosurgery, and other advanced interventions.

Even under ideal conditions, Edis said, time is required to mobilize transportation resources and move patients to higher levels of care. Weather conditions, distance, and resource limitations can further complicate those efforts.

Edis praised local physicians, nurses, aides, and support staff for their work stabilizing critically ill patients while awaiting transfer.

“Our physicians, nurses, and staff devote themselves to providing the highest level of care possible,” Edis said. “When a patient does not survive despite those efforts, it is heartbreaking for everyone involved.”

He added that such losses affect not only families but also the healthcare professionals who cared for the patient and the broader community.

Community Support for
the Family
For the Hungerford family, the focus now turns toward healing and navigating an uncertain future.

Dennis was described by friends and family as the family’s primary provider and a devoted husband and father deeply involved in his son’s hockey activities.

His death leaves significant emotional and financial challenges for Mary-Grace and Zain.
Community members seeking to support the family can contribute through a benefit account established at BNC National Bank in Watford City.

Meanwhile, questions surrounding emergency medical transport capabilities, ambulance coverage, and access to specialized healthcare in western North Dakota are likely to continue.
As additional information becomes available regarding transportation decisions, emergency response protocols, and regional resource coordination, further reporting is expected.
For the Hungerford family, however, the questions remain deeply personal.

There are questions rooted in a four-and-a-half-hour fight for survival, a son trying to keep his father awake, a mother pleading for just five more minutes, and a family left wondering whether anything more could have been done.