Hi,
my post turned out to be long, so I've bolded the crux.
I am feeling a tad sheepish and selfish for posting here as I may not have any issue at all. I am also a bit uncomfortable in a role of seeking support rather than providing support.
Nonetheless I'd appreciate feedback as to whether I just need to give things a few more days or I need to see a counselor.
A couple of days ago I thought my 10 year old son was dead for a few moments when I saw him. He was about 25 below the side of a steep mountain embankment with his silent motionless body at about a 45 degree angle, head downhill and entire upper body and head pinned under an upside down quad ATV. Only his sprawled legs were visible, motionless and there was no sound or struggle. My wife who was driving the vehicle had jumped off as it went down and was beside the vehicle screaming and crying 'my son...' without doing anything. I thought my son was dead.
It was marketed as a family ride and we were only a couple of minutes into it, the first time ATVing. The guide at front stopped and told us to shut off engines. My wife was 2nd last in pack of 7 atvs with a guide behind her. My 13 year old daughter was on seat behind me. As front guide walked behind me I noticed that about a 100 yards back only the trailing guides atv (distinguishable by color) no guide on it....and my wife and sons atv was not there which was in front was not there.
As I ran back behind the front guide, I realized they had gone off the edge. I was not sure if the mountainside was 200 feet down or how far. We already had driven to quite an elevation at base camp. The thought occurred to me that they both went down that far and maybe a tree or rocks stopped them part way, maybe they're dead, but when I got there it was only about 25 feet down a steep slope. However,I saw my wife was screaming and crying and saw just my sons motionless legs with the rest of his body pinned under an upside down atv. I thought he was dead. I recall wondering if this was real for a moment, yelling 'it's Ok I'm here' and thought I was going to console my wife. Then thought maybe he's only unconscious and paralyzed.
I got to the bottom, called my son...who said 'I'm ok, I'm just stuck. I flipped with ATV over with the assistance of the guide. My sons neck was awkwardly (and probably luckily) jammed between branches. He remained motionless. He had sensation in his feet and hands and was making sense. He's very sensitive started using some of his wit to reassure and it was reassuring. However, he was not allowed to move and was immobilized with a neck brace, spine board, harness, military style vehicle, ambulance and hospital, all about an hour and half before we knew he did not have a serious neck/spine injury. Air ambulance was called off cause his vitals were OK.
I felt very guilty as I ran back up the embankment about 4-5 minutes later once giving the thumbs up to my daughter. I ran back to her only another 10-15 minutes later (by that time there was a team of 'resucuers') and she had not moved off her ATV. Tears streamed down her eyes. Later she said she saw my thumbs up, but I can't imagine what was going through her mind. I'm also worried about my wife who is filled with guilt. She jumped off the ATV failing in her attempt to grab my son... and heard my son saying 'mom I'm stuck' so knew he was alive but had good reason to believe he was seriously hurt with an ATV on top of him 25 feet below the trail.
I was mostly concerned about my family. Tried to normalize things and suggested to my wife she go for counseling. Kids are oddly resilient. I rarely have time to think alone which is good but now at work and feeling finish but can't think about anything else.
Sorry for the long post.
my post turned out to be long, so I've bolded the crux.
I am feeling a tad sheepish and selfish for posting here as I may not have any issue at all. I am also a bit uncomfortable in a role of seeking support rather than providing support.
Nonetheless I'd appreciate feedback as to whether I just need to give things a few more days or I need to see a counselor.
A couple of days ago I thought my 10 year old son was dead for a few moments when I saw him. He was about 25 below the side of a steep mountain embankment with his silent motionless body at about a 45 degree angle, head downhill and entire upper body and head pinned under an upside down quad ATV. Only his sprawled legs were visible, motionless and there was no sound or struggle. My wife who was driving the vehicle had jumped off as it went down and was beside the vehicle screaming and crying 'my son...' without doing anything. I thought my son was dead.
It was marketed as a family ride and we were only a couple of minutes into it, the first time ATVing. The guide at front stopped and told us to shut off engines. My wife was 2nd last in pack of 7 atvs with a guide behind her. My 13 year old daughter was on seat behind me. As front guide walked behind me I noticed that about a 100 yards back only the trailing guides atv (distinguishable by color) no guide on it....and my wife and sons atv was not there which was in front was not there.
As I ran back behind the front guide, I realized they had gone off the edge. I was not sure if the mountainside was 200 feet down or how far. We already had driven to quite an elevation at base camp. The thought occurred to me that they both went down that far and maybe a tree or rocks stopped them part way, maybe they're dead, but when I got there it was only about 25 feet down a steep slope. However,I saw my wife was screaming and crying and saw just my sons motionless legs with the rest of his body pinned under an upside down atv. I thought he was dead. I recall wondering if this was real for a moment, yelling 'it's Ok I'm here' and thought I was going to console my wife. Then thought maybe he's only unconscious and paralyzed.
I got to the bottom, called my son...who said 'I'm ok, I'm just stuck. I flipped with ATV over with the assistance of the guide. My sons neck was awkwardly (and probably luckily) jammed between branches. He remained motionless. He had sensation in his feet and hands and was making sense. He's very sensitive started using some of his wit to reassure and it was reassuring. However, he was not allowed to move and was immobilized with a neck brace, spine board, harness, military style vehicle, ambulance and hospital, all about an hour and half before we knew he did not have a serious neck/spine injury. Air ambulance was called off cause his vitals were OK.
I felt very guilty as I ran back up the embankment about 4-5 minutes later once giving the thumbs up to my daughter. I ran back to her only another 10-15 minutes later (by that time there was a team of 'resucuers') and she had not moved off her ATV. Tears streamed down her eyes. Later she said she saw my thumbs up, but I can't imagine what was going through her mind. I'm also worried about my wife who is filled with guilt. She jumped off the ATV failing in her attempt to grab my son... and heard my son saying 'mom I'm stuck' so knew he was alive but had good reason to believe he was seriously hurt with an ATV on top of him 25 feet below the trail.
I was mostly concerned about my family. Tried to normalize things and suggested to my wife she go for counseling. Kids are oddly resilient. I rarely have time to think alone which is good but now at work and feeling finish but can't think about anything else.
Sorry for the long post.
