Post by L Roebuck on Dec 8, 2007 8:51:43 GMT -5
"Rock Solid" Friends To The Rescue
John Pless, News Channel 9
A Chattanooga man who was once told he'll never walk again after a near-death accident is walking, and even back on a job that calls for a lot of moving around.
But getting there wasn't easy, and neither is paying for the doctor bills.
So friends and strangers from around the country pitched in to help in a truly one-of-a-kind way.
Rick Gattone came as close to dying as just about anyone can. He was caving in Marion County, lowering himself into a 50-foot deep pit, when the rope that was his lifeline malfunctioned.
He fell 35-feet on his back and side onto rocks in a waterfall. That was in August, but four months later it's a much different story.
Gattone had no idea why so many people were applauding his arrival Friday on a job in Harrison. Just to see him walk is truly amazing, but to see what happened next is amazing too.
A crowd of people cheered "we tricked you, we tricked you, we fooled you!"
Gattone thought he was just going to watch the installation of a whitewater mountain stream in a Harrison couple's back yard.
It turned out he got a check for $20,000.
"Just wow, I can't believe this is for me," Gattone said. The check is for his medical bills.
Four-months ago he and a buddy went into Prior Springs Cave in Marion County when his rope malfunctioned.
"All of a sudden, boom! I felt it let go and I had enough time to close my eyes," Gattone recalled.
Within the blink of an eye his life changed when Gattone hit the bottom of the cave.
Full Article
John Pless, News Channel 9
A Chattanooga man who was once told he'll never walk again after a near-death accident is walking, and even back on a job that calls for a lot of moving around.
But getting there wasn't easy, and neither is paying for the doctor bills.
So friends and strangers from around the country pitched in to help in a truly one-of-a-kind way.
Rick Gattone came as close to dying as just about anyone can. He was caving in Marion County, lowering himself into a 50-foot deep pit, when the rope that was his lifeline malfunctioned.
He fell 35-feet on his back and side onto rocks in a waterfall. That was in August, but four months later it's a much different story.
Gattone had no idea why so many people were applauding his arrival Friday on a job in Harrison. Just to see him walk is truly amazing, but to see what happened next is amazing too.
A crowd of people cheered "we tricked you, we tricked you, we fooled you!"
Gattone thought he was just going to watch the installation of a whitewater mountain stream in a Harrison couple's back yard.
It turned out he got a check for $20,000.
"Just wow, I can't believe this is for me," Gattone said. The check is for his medical bills.
Four-months ago he and a buddy went into Prior Springs Cave in Marion County when his rope malfunctioned.
"All of a sudden, boom! I felt it let go and I had enough time to close my eyes," Gattone recalled.
Within the blink of an eye his life changed when Gattone hit the bottom of the cave.
Full Article
