BOISE, Idaho — A 20-year-old man from Horseshoe Bend was injured when he was practicing for the Urban Air Contest at the Idaho Potato Drop on New Year's Eve.
According to Alex Church's family, he over-rotated when he was on the ski jump and landed on his neck, shattering one bone and fracturing another. Church is being transported to the University of Utah's Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital and will spend up to four months in rehabilitation.
The city of Boise told KTVB the Idaho Potato Drop did have insurance filed with the city, and the city's special events team works with event coordinators to ensure safety.
"The ski jump itself was a competition put on by a private company that the potato drop works with, I believe they are called Urban Air. They set up the structure, recruit competitors and have their own waivers for participating. Because the Potato Drop included that event, the city did require specifical medical services to be on site – including a back board to stabilize a person in the event of a serious injury," a city spokesperson said. "The Potato Drop had those required medical services in place as well as all other safety requirements set by the city and other entities. As with many of our large events, we hold an after action report with the event organizers and I am certain we'll discuss this with them at that time."
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with medical expenses. The fundraiser, titled "Walk in Love and Prayer for Alex Church and Family," can be found by clicking here.
"Fortunately, Alex has student insurance that will help cover the cost of the surgery and some rehabilitation, but we know that besides deductibles, there will be many additional expenses such as ambulance transportation for Alex to Salt Lake City, room, board and gas for mom who will stay with Alex throughout the duration of his rehab," Abriana Church wrote on GoFundMe. "And the rotating siblings who will take turns visiting for a week at a time and returning home to take care of our ranch, adaptive equipment for Alex, and the out-patient rehabilitation and services he will need in the months and years ahead."
The GoFundMe has raised more than $21,000 as of Friday afternoon. The page states that Church went to the event to compete and was told the winner would be the one jumping at midnight. He had three trial runs and then attempted a backflip.
He ended up over-rotating, hit the ground and could not feel his legs, according to the GoFundMe.
After a lengthy surgery, Church's prognosis is good and he will now go to Utah to finish therapy. The family said they will take turns spending time with him during his recovery.
KTVB reached out to the Potato Drop organizers but did not get a response by the time of publication.
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