Our WUWT editor, Charles Rotter was seriously injured today.
He was snorkeling [swimming] in Ft. Lauderdale, and he felt himself getting into a riptide. He forcefully swam out of it but in the process/panic he didn’t pay attention to the waves. caught [a wave to assist returning to shore,] him and [but due to riptide dynamics] it lifted his legs over his head and] threw him into the beach head first. He has spinal compression and vertebrae fractures. He’s mobile (can walk) and very lucky it wasn’t worse. He’ll be in the hospital a few days, followed by therapy.
More details as I have them. – Anthony
[update. 4 pm Eastern 9/19. I am now allowed to sit upright and my laptop was just delivered. Laying 100% flat for 24 hours in a neck collar on NBO protocol (no food or drink) is quite unpleasant. Far more unpleasant than the pain. It is not yet determined whether I will need surgery to pin the break or if I can just go home and wear a neck collar for the next three months. I’m the luckiest person in the world. The fact that I’m not dead or paralyzed is winning the lottery–charles]
[update 2. No surgery. Headed home in an hour or two. 12 weeks in a neck brace.]
Bloody hell – that is shocking. Sending best wishes for a full recovery….
All the best, Charles.
Best wishes for swift recovery. !
I’ve been “dumped” before.. had a sore neck for a few weeks.
Get well soon Charles, we need you for your great articles.
I wish him the best for a full recovery.
Be patient and let your body have time to heal. Good luck Charles.
We pray that the Eternal One, whose name is Merciful, restore our brother, Charles Rotter to perfect health, and heal him in body and in spirit, speedily, without delay, together with all of those who are suffering from illness or injury; and let us say: Amen.
Speedy recovery Charles!! Prayers too!
Thanks everybody.
That’s awful. Send him my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Wishing you the best and quick healing. Take care.
I hope he recovers fully.
When I was in college in the early 1980s, I worked summers for a hospital/clinic in radiology transportation. Met a girl that had come to have testing done. While on her HS senior trip to Florida a wave pushed her head into the bottom. Broke her neck. Left her a paraplegic. Nature sometimes isn’t very forgiving.
Could’ve been much worse, glad to hear you’re out of danger.
Oh! Reading this is a gut punch for me. I wish Charles the best.
Charles
Best wishes for a complete recovery.
THat’s awful. My very best wishes to Charles, and for a full recovery.
Hoping to have him back soon making his much valued contributions to WUWT.
And I didn’t panic. I tried to catch a wave to get out of the water. The extreme slope from the riptide change the wave dynamics and it lifted my legs up and smashed my head directly downward into the sand.
May your recovery be fast, and complete. We’re all thinking of you.
I exploded 2 vertebrae into small pieces when I jumped/rolled my rally car (they say 8 times, I lost count after 4) in 2018. The 3 months where the jumbled bits were slowly cementing themselves back together was pre Work-From-Home Covid, so I had Workman’s comp calling me daily, telling me to get back to work, while I memorized the side effect of the Big Pharma ads on daytime TV…. Necrotizing Fasciitus of the Perineum, the area between the genitals and A…
Breaking your back sucks and mine reminds me every day to “slow down and enjoy life more”.
Maybe someday. There are too many things that need doing.
In racing you go slow to go fast. Nothing will be slower than the next 3 months, but then you can go fast, again.
OK, fast-ish.
Best wishes for a quick and full recovery.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Sending prayers…
All the best, Charles. I wish you a full and speedy recovery.
Wow how terrible😟. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Charles.
Heal soon Charles, we need you here.
So sorry to hear that. Praying for a quick and complete recovery for you, Charles.