On the morning of the 6th of July while surfing at Cape Kiwanda, 14 year old Cole Ortega was struck by a dory making a landing on the beach. The propeller severed his left arm above the elbow. Due to the quick actions of a number of surfers in the water his life was saved and the arm was recovered.
On the beach an E.R. doc passing by managed to stabilse the young boy as he was carried from the ocean. An ambulance took him and his father to the Tillamook Hospital where a helicopter life flighted him to Emanuel Hospital in Portland where his arm was reattached. At the moment he is still in serious condition while they monitor him to prevent an infection and to see how well the body accepts the surgical reattachment.
A jointly managed fund, by both surfers and dory men has been established to aid the Ortega family through this crisis, if you can make a donation please mail checks to the Cole Ortega Recovery Fund. P.O.Box 423, Pacific City Ore 97135
2 comments:
I just read that he suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung as well! Tough kid - and I was stoked to hear of all the quick thinking people who took care of him before he was flown out of PC.
Thanks for the donations, they're starting to come in. Cheers!
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