Man Injured In Deadly Stage Collapse Rehabs In High Country
FRISCO, Colo. (CBS4) - High winds caused a stage to collapse at the Indiana State Fair, killing seven and injuring dozens more four months ago. Now one of the injured has come to Colorado for help in his recovery.
Brad Humpfrey, 17, was in the front row when the stage collapsed during a Sugarland concert and he's in Colorado as part of his rehabilitation. CBS4's Jeff Todd talked to some of the other disabled athletes who are in Colorado this week. Even they're surprised of what Humpfrey is accomplishing just three months after he was paralyzed.
"I knew it fell on top of him. It was the fact knowing your child was hurt and not being able to get to him," Humphrey's mother Sue Humphrey said.
"I remember being at the concert. I don't remember much until I woke up in the hospital," Humpfrey said.
Humpfrey's legs and spine were crushed. He's now quickly recovering and adapting to a new life. He's in the mountains this week with the Hartford Ski Spectacular learning new sports. On Tuesday he was cross-country skiing.
"It's hard but it's a lot of fun," he said.
With the help from coaches, he's learning, but he's also getting a chance to interact with other disabled athletes.
"It takes a lot of guts to come to an event like this, so new after an injury and to just jump in head first," U.S. Paralympian Anjali Forber-Pratt said.
Forber-Pratt is getting a chance to mentor Humpfrey this week.
"It's important to meet people with other disabilities because that's how you learn to be an advocate for yourself," Forber-Pratt said.
"That's what I'm taking away -- that there's nothing that holds me back. I can do anything I want," Humpfrey said.
Humpfrey has a pretty full week ahead. He's going to try curling and a few other activities. And he's not alone. There are 700 disabled athletes in Summit County this week. About 100 of those are wounded warriors and their family, all learning how to enjoy the snow and extreme cold.
