Surgeons reattach Oregon surfer’s arm
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 12:40 PM PDT
PORTLAND (AP) — A 14-year-old surfer had his left arm reattached by surgeons following a collision with a dory boat near Pacific City.
Dr. Steven Madey, a surgeon at Portland’s Legacy Emanuel Hospital, said Tuesday it may take months to know whether Cole Ortega of Bend will regain use of the arm, which had been severed just above the elbow.
But he said the arm wouldn’t have been reattached at all if not for the efforts of numerous people after Sunday’s incident.
The boyfriend of Ortega’s sister applied a tourniquet and another surfer recovered the severed limb that was quickly put on ice. Madey also credited an emergency room physician who happened to be on the beach and the teams responsible for rushing the boy to Portland.
‘‘It’s chaos, and then everybody did what they were supposed to do in chaos,’’ Madey said at a press conference in Portland that included Ortega’s father and sister.
Charlie Ortega thanked everyone who helped his son.
‘‘For the level of injury, having your arm completely severed, he’s doing very well,’’ Ortega said. Tillamook County Sheriff Todd Anderson said his department is investigating whether to cite anyone for the incident.
