OCEAN CITY — A West Virginia family is hoping and praying for the best and expecting the worst this week after a 19-year-old family member dove head first into the bay at 25th Street and had to be airlifted to a Baltimore hospital with neck and back trauma and paralysis.
For the second time in less than a week, a teenager dove head first into the bay and suffered traumatic injuries, this time at 25th Street on Tuesday afternoon. Around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the Ocean City Police Department and the Ocean City Fire Department responded to the area of 25th Street and the bay for a reported diving incident.
The investigation revealed Cody Owens, 19, dove head first into the bay at 25th Street. Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 4 responded and transported the victim to a Baltimore area hospital with severe neck and back trauma and partial paralysis.
On Wednesday, Owens’ stepfather Stephen Litten said the victim had some movement in his upper extremities, but had paralysis below the waist. Litten said Owens was alert and responsive and was going into surgery on Wednesday morning with the hopes of restoring some of his movement.
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The problem with youth is you think you are invincible and will live forever! You take unnecessary risks for the thrill. I did this myself and have scars that will last the rest of my life. Hopefully you live and learn and come out of it with everything in tact. I will pray this boy gets better and gets his feeling back and will hopefully learn from this.
ReplyDeleteThe youth don't think they'll live forever. You ignorant scum bag
DeleteI knew a guy who died from this very same thing many years ago in Sharptown in the river, so it's not just the ocean to be careful around.
ReplyDeleteSad. Maybe a result of poor judgement. People on vacation are not invincible.
ReplyDeleteAlways a result of poor judgement and I blame part of it on the parents for not teaching them to never dive into water unless you know how deep it is!
ReplyDeleteI have seen quite a few jump off the end of the dock or the bridge in Sharptown and have to be fished out by the Fire Department, many never lived to tell their stories of stupidity.
The kid didn't have real parents that how much you know.
DeleteGod Bless this poor family.
ReplyDeleteVery very sad story.
ReplyDeleteHope he is OK>
Sharptown = Low I.Q. ??
ReplyDeleteSorry I pray for a better outcome but in these cases usually alcohol is consumed by the jumpers.
ReplyDeletePrayers for this young man. If he had the heart to serve his country, he has the heart to create a good life no matter his circumstances.
ReplyDelete