Lake Martin Topics: paralysis from Chimney Rock accident

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	Name:	bigfish -
	Subject:	paralysis from Chimney Rock accident
	Date:	8/3/2010 8:24:59 AM

On the afternoon of June 13, 2010 my nephew, Ryan Penney, jumped from Acapulco Rock (aka Chimney Rock) and burst the T12 vertebrae in his back. He is paralyzed from the waist down.

Ryan is a wonderful young man, a sophomore at Samford University. We are all from Nashville, and this was only his second visit to Lake Martin. He was brought to Chimney Rock by his girlfriend and her family, and had no idea of the danger and previous accidents that have happened to people jumping from the rock. He has spent the summer trying to recover from the accident after a lifeflight to Montgomery and then Birmingham, a six hour surgery at UAB in Birmingham, a four week stay at UAB and Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital, and now as an outpatient at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

I understand that many, many people jump from the rock every summer and very few get hurt. However, the few that do get hurt are often injured in catastrophic ways. I know that there were at least 2, and possibly 3 other accidents that happened at the Rock in June of this year. I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who has experienced an injury from jumping off Chimney Rock, this summer or previously. You can contact me through the email link in this forum. Captain Matt Brooks of the Alabama Marine police (Matt.Brooks@DCNR.alabama.gov) is also interested in hearing from anyone who has been injured in a jump from the rock. A reported from the Alexander City Outlook, Katie Cole, published a story about Ryan's accident in the Friday, July 30 issue.

I urge everyone who visits Chimney Rock to refrain from jumping off the highest point. Please, be safe.
Linda Floyd
Nashville, Tennessee