LETHBRIDGE – 19-year old Colton Ribling has always loved the sport of lacrosse, playing it much of his life. But now, he faces the possibility of never playing again.
On December 26, Colton was snowboarding with friends at Castle Mountain. When he came across a difficult portion of the hill, Colton decided to take off his snowboard and walk around a steep cliff. That’s when disaster struck. Colton lost his footing and began to slide down the mountain, toward the cliff.
“I hit my tailbone on the part where it judded out and it kind of shot me into the middle of the gulley,” said Colton from his hospital room in Calgary. “I landed face down and I was just laying there.”
Colton couldn’t feel his legs, and was separated from his friends.
“I was just screaming ‘help’ and no one could hear me. I was losing my voice and I was kind of losing hope. I thought I would probably die out there, it was pretty cold.”
Finally, Colton was found by an unidentified couple. He was taken off the hill, rushed to Pincher Creek hospital and eventually airlifted by STARS to Foothills Hospital in Calgary.
“We were shopping in Lethbridge and at first it was disbelief,” said mother Annet.
“They only told me ‘it is bad’,” said his father Kelly.
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The fall had fractured Colton’s spine. He underwent surgery to stabilize the injury, but it’s not yet known if he will be able to walk again. Annet has set up a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise ten thousand dollars for medical costs and possible modifications to their home. The family says the early support they’ve received has been incredible.
“Everybody comes back into your lives at a time of crisis,” Said Kelly. “So it’s (the support) has meant the world to us.”
As he works to rehabilitate his injury, Colton can now sit up on his own and sensation is returning to his feet. He and his family remain positive and hope one day, he can return to the sport he loves.
“Lacrosse has really been life for me,” he said. “And, I’d definitely love to play my final year of junior.”
His father, who has seen his son in a number of lacrosse battles, would love to see one more.
“That’s our end goal, is to see him back and suited up,” said Kelly Ribling. “Would love to see him out there knocking people around on the floor again.”
Annet believes what she’s seen in Colton’s play on the floor will carry over to his recovery.
“I know he can do it,” said Annet. ” I know how tough he is and how determined he is.”
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