Harrison Ford once proved that he can be a hero in real life too, as well as on the big screen.

The actor once rescued a 13-year-old boy who was lost in Yellowstone National Park after the teen incredibly managed to signal Ford’s helicopter using a special skill.

It was 2001 when Cody Clawson – a 13-year-old boy scout – was hiking in Yellowstone and he lost his way.

Cody was missing for 18 hours in total, and wearing only shorts, sandals and a T-shirt, he decided to hunker down in a nearby cave to shelter from the rain and sleet.

But after falling asleep for a few hours, the teenager woke up to hear a helicopter overhead – and it just so happened to be Harrison Ford.

Ford took the boy to safety (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Using a skill he learned in the boy scouts, Cody took his belt buckle and managed to reflect the sunlight, alerting Ford that he needed assistance.

“I started looking for an open place that I could signal them,” the boy told ABC News.

“I used my belt buckle to reflect the sunlight.”

Ford swiftly landed his helicopter before flying Cody to a search and rescue HQ.

Speaking about what happened afterwards, Cody said he immediately recognised the actor from his voice, as soon as he said ‘hello’.

“The way he said [hello] reminded me so much of his role of Han Solo in Star Wars. Then I was like, ‘Oh my God, Han Solo has just rescued me. How cool is that?’

Ford rescued the boy scout in his helicopter (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

“When we landed, Harrison Ford came over to me and said, ‘Boy, you sure must have earned a merit badge for this one.’ But I told him I’d already earned this badge last summer, and he laughed.”

Cody explained that his experience with Ford gave him a different perspective on celebrities.

“What he did gave me a different perspective on stars. They sometimes get portrayed as snobby people, but there really is good, generous people out there,” he said.

Ford proved to be a real life hero (Paramount/Getty Images)

“And to me Harrison Ford is one of those good people who we’re lucky to have as an influence on our lives.”

After he told his friends what had happened during his trip to Yellowstone, they asked Cody if he had managed to get his autograph.

He added: “The kids asked if I got an autograph but I told them, ‘No, but I got a hug and a handshake, and that’s better’.”