Texas father Edward Steinkamp, 67, was enjoying a lifetime opportunity to bond with his son, Bret, 28, while hiking at a scenic trail in British Columbia when he lost one of his eyes in a freak accident.
On Tuesday, May 3, the dad, an avid hiker, lost his footing and slipped on the West Coast Trail. He landed with his eyes going straight into a tree branch.
According to the Times Colonist, Edward and Bret waited six hours for the rescuers to arrive, which meant that the father had to endure the pain while the Pacheedahl First National Guardians could get to them. He was then airlifted to the Victoria General Hospital for an emergency brain surgery because the tree branch also punctured his brain.
An Experienced Backpacker
Bret said that he and his father, a former aeronautical engineer, are experienced backpackers who always follow protocols. His father has been backpacking and joining marathons since he was in his teens.
At the time of the freak accident, Edward and Bret were on the third day of their hike. They encountered a muddy trail with a fallen tree at the intersection. Edward tried to avoid that tree but then slipped and fell. Bret saw the whole thing as he was a meter behind his dad.
Susan Lowe, a family friend, created a GoFundMe page for the Steinkamp family as Edward has been moved to the Neuro Trauma Ward from the ICU. His wife, Wendy Steinkamp, has flown from Texas to Canada as well to take care of her husband in the hospital.
The friend said they still don't know how long Edward has to be hospitalized and the doctors have ordered him not to fly for more months. So, the family has to rent a vehicle to drive back home to Texas and their mounting expenses at the hospital, their hotel accommodation, as well as the gas and car rental will be "enormous," according to Lowe.
She said that Edward needs to focus on getting better instead of worrying about the expenses. Lowe is hoping that people will be pitching in. She described her friend as someone who has never turned his back on people who have asked for his help as well.
The fundraiser's goal is to raise $200,000 and has so far reached over $21,000 among 216 donors, as of press time.
Dad's Freak Accident Felt Likely Like Childbirth
Meanwhile, a dad from Glasgow also experienced a freak accident that was so excruciatingly painful that he believes it might be what childbirth pain felt like. David Mcwaters was skating with his two girls during a fun family day out when he slip and fell onto the ramp.
The dad crushed his pelvis so hard that it punctured his stomach. He felt that his left thigh bone was pulverized by the pressure and impact, per the Glasgow Times.
Now, four years after that freak accident, David still has post-traumatic stress disorder. He has to learn to walk again but he still experiences nightmares about falling. The father has been working with a good therapist to address both his physical and mental health issues.
