So on Tuesday, September 4th, on my second jump of the day I was coaching and filming, with stills and video a young member of the India team.
He opened, I opened, but I opened a bit quicker. My video managed a quick shot of my body, waist down, and audio captured some rather foul language.
Inside the helmet I got to hear the vertebrae snap. a lot of swearing there.
So I'm thinking, this is not even close to good. I was screaming and real quickly wanted to
cut away my helmet and cameras. But a calmer mind suggested I try and work this out.
I managed to help my head back up to it's more normal position, and when I removed my hands
I was able to maintain. This is a great sign, I can feel everything, I'll take pain....
I could see my toggles, I wasn't spinning, Thank God I didn't have to cut a way, I don't think I would have done well with another opening.
Now all I have to do is land. Wind is light, I can't make the lawn, so, I make it to the plowed area near the pond. A flared tandem slide only produces more profanity on the audio tape.
Now I sit and wait to be noticed as a non mover. Help is quick in coming. Whoever landed behind me to check on things, Thank you, I'm not sure that I ever saw your face, but I enjoyed the visit.
The rest is routine bla bla bla.
For all the assistance, Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to everyone.
Cut to the end. About 30 hours after arriving at the hospital, they let me go,
with only a neck collar, no fusions, no Halo.
I think spilling the urinal in the bed helps speed up the process.
I had broken C2 in two places and C3. But, nothing was shattered, no fragments and nothing protruded inward it impinge on the nerves or arteries.
The Doctor estimated only 6 months before skydiving again.
Thank God. How luck can I be? Call me Lucky, Call me anything, just call me.
I won't bore you any longer. I love you all and wanted you to know I 'm OK.
Thanks for everything. See you soon.
Dennis Sattler
DennisSattler@roadrunner.com
*I"m sending this to a few folks please feal free to forward it.
