“God spared me!”
Man falls 45 ft. head-first - and lives!

Two days after the accident, Eddie Collier posted this photo on social media from his hospital bed and commented, “I’m good I got Jesus on my side.”

By Tami Stevenson

On July 27, while working in Wellborn, with his cousin, Lee Chauncey, of Veteran’s Tree Services, clearing some land, Eddie Collier, of Suwannee County, fell 45 feet, head-first to the ground, during a freak accident where the tree limb he was working on snapped back, hitting the lift bucket he was in and knocking him some 45 feet to the ground below.
The first saving grace that day, is that Lee Chauncey is a retired paramedic.

“He survived what should have been a fatal fall,” said Chauncey. “I watched him fall 45 feet head-first to the ground. Had he not hit that chain-link fence I am convinced he would have been dead.” He added, “They teach in paramedic school, if you fall three times your height, it can be fatal and 45 feet exceeds that pretty well.”

Collier sustained multiple injuries – his back was broken in three places, six broken ribs, a punctured lung that was collapsed, a lacerated liver and spleen and his right forearm was virtually crushed.

Eddie says he is just thanking God that He miraculously saved him. But he has a long road of recovery ahead of him.
He just received full custody of his daughter and is concerned, now that he is out of work, what will happen.

A GoFundMe, Eddie Collier page has been created to help him and his fifteen year old daughter, Cypris, with expenses. Readers that wish to are encouraged to donate. Any amount will help.

Eddie told the Suwannee Valley Times and posted on social media,
“I got to admit I haven’t a clue how to explain what has happened in my life other than to say I am a true walking, talking testimony to God. He has intervened in my life, healed my heart and changed a lot of things about me. But this last one – this last one was – there’s no denying it – I should be dead!”

He continued, “But after being life-flighted to Gainesville and surviving these injuries, and only 14 days later, I walked out on my own ten toes! God worked a miracle!” He added, “My daughter was close to becoming an orphan, pretty much. I know that’s part of life – dying, but my daughter needs me more than heaven does right now and I thank God He spared me. I don’t know what’s in the future, but I’m trusting Jesus to see me through.”

Chauncey explained he had to walk approximately 100 yards to reach him from where he was working.
“I’m thinking to myself, he’s either going to be completely dead or I’m going to comfort him while he dies before the ambulance gets there. That’s what was going through my head.”

He dialed 911 immediately. Because of his background as a paramedic, was able to adequately explain the situation in a timely manner and they immediately got a helicopter in the air.

Chauncey said although he had no tools other than his hands, he did a trauma assessment the best he could to make sure they were doing everything for him with what they had. Miraculously, he was conscious, could wiggle his toes and could feel the pain.

“So we had an umbrella and some wet towels to help keep him cool. That’s about all we could do for him until they got there. He was in a lot of pain.”

The helicopter actually landed about 20 seconds before they heard the siren from the ambulance. “So that was good timing,” added Chauncey. The helicopter landed at the Wellborn Baptist Church where they have a helipad, while an ambulance made its way to where the accident took place.

Chauncey explained that in the medical profession, you are always concerned about the ‘golden hour’ where trauma is concerned.

“We got him to the hospital in Gainesville well within that golden hour.” They flew him straight out of Wellborn to Gainesville. “So 45 minutes from the time he fell, he was at the trauma center in Gainesville,” said Chauncey. Another saving grace.

Chauncey talked to the doctor and said Eddie had six broken ribs, three fractured vertebra, a punctured lung that was collapsed and a lacerated liver and spleen. His right forearm, which he used to try to catch his fall on the chain-link fence, was so badly broken with compound fractures, they had to put a plate in his arm and stitch it back together so the bones could heal. “He’ll have to go back and have another surgery to remove all the hardware they put in so his bones could heal,” Chauncey said.
He has to return for more surgery on August 21 and is hoping to find out more about his ribs and back then.

Chauncey added, “It’s just amazing to me that he didn’t die, let alone have a lot more injury than he did. It’s just amazing that he survived and done as well as he has. He has a tremendously long road ahead of him as far as recovery.”

All prayers and any donations to his GoFundMe page to help Eddie and his daughter are greatly appreciated.

Eddie Collier in the lift bucket. -Photo: Taken from his GoFundMe page.

Eddie Collier, right, enjoys a visit from his Uncle Clint Chauncey. -Photo: Courtesy

Eddie’s uncle, Rev. Carl Chauncey, Jr. stopped by the hospital to visit. He is 82 and does not want to wear a mask. -Photo: Courtesy