Local Young Man Badly Injured in Fall, Community Rallies to Help

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY - A familiar face in Westhampton Beach was badly injured in a fall last month, and the community is rallying to help him get back on his feet, literally.

According to a YouCaring.com page, "Help Support Tyler Get Back on his Feet," Tyler O'Rourke was injured on April 24 in a skiing accident in Utah.

O'Rourke took a fall "that very nearly could have ended his life," the page, set up by his brother Connor O'Rourke, reads.

O'Rourke severed his spinal cord, broke two ribs, cracked his pelvis, dislocated his wrist, and bruised his spleen and lungs.

"At first, our greatest fear was paralysis, but after a few hours and surgeries the doctors confirmed that his inability to move his limbs was only temporary," Connor wrote.

His brother, "our favorite 6'8 thrill-seeker," was enjoying the 2015-2016 ski season with friends, spring skiing in at Snowbird Resort, Connor said.

"About halfway through the day, Tyler hopped over what he thought was a harmless log. . . To his great misfortune, on the other side of that log was a two story drop to an essentially flat trail," he wrote.

Thankfully, on Wednesday, "Tyler walked out of the Intermountain Medical Center under his own volition, (attempting) to sing and dance his way out," Connor wrote. "But his journey to recovery is far from over. Tyler's goal of $6,000 is simply to cover his annual medical deductible on his insurance that he has so far put to shame. While the medical deductible is the most easily assessed tangible expense, there are other factors like lost wages and living expenses that will undoubtedly add up," the page reads.

Tyler, his brother said, "has received a massive outpouring of support and concern over the past three weeks. Between his Park City friends dropping by for visits, one instance bringing his beloved Indy to keep him company, and our dad flying out to be by his bedside for a week, he has had a constant stream of affection. But now that he’s out of the hospital and homebound, what would help him the most would be the peace of mind that comes with the ability to cover his medical expenses."

To donate, click here.