New York City...
On November 12th of last year (1995), NYC*EMS Deputy Chief Michael Rice was responding to a report of a fire on board an incoming aircraft to JFK International Airport, in Jamaica, Queens, NYC. Rice, 43, became a victim of a serious one car accident on the Cross Island Parkway, having skidded on very wet pavement, which was being whipped by high winds. He spent one month in a coma in Jamaica Hospital's Tramautic Brain Injury Unit, and then stayed in the hospital for three additional months. Yesterday, Chief Rice walked from the hospital, greeted by his collegue, Chief Andy McCrakin, who happened upon Rice's accident while enroute to the same incident.
Rice echoed the praise the doctors had for his pre-hospital treatment that was given to him at the scene of the accident by paramedics of NYC*EMS. "They gave me a second chance at life," said Rice. Rice, a 24-year veteran of EMS, will continue with much needed therapy.
(ENN Ed. Note: The story of Rice's accident and injuries is available elsewhere on the ERRI website. Click here to see the original story It's extremely nice to hear about a happy ending to what could have been a very tragic story. Our hopes and prayers go out to Chief Rice and his family for a full and speedy recovery)