Teen rescued after eight days under crashed car
A teenager who survived eight days trapped in his crashed car with only a bottle of water underwent surgery last night after he was freed.
Joe Spring, 19, of Vancouver, suffered head injuries, a broken ankle and fractured ribs after his car plunged off a road and down an embankment in British Columbia .
Rescuers couldn’t find the vehicle because of thick brush, but a helicopter finally spotted it on Tuesday.
Workers used machinery to pry the car apart and free Spring, who police said was semiconscious and badly dehydrated after he survived near-freezing temperatures.
‘‘We don’t think he would have been around much more,’’ his father, Tim Spring, said as tears streamed down his face at Vancouver Hospital. ‘‘He was pretty well reaching the end of his rope.’’
Joe Spring was in a serious condition in the intensive care unit following surgery. His father said anything was better than the days of uncertainty.
‘‘I would say if there’s such a thing as hell or torment, not knowing where your children are has got to be one of the worst,’’ Tim Spring said.
Joe was on his way to attend a graduation ceremony in Prince Rupert in northern British Columbia, with a plan to spend the night at a friend’s house along the way, his family said.
When Joe failed to arrive at the friend’s house, police, helicopters and family members began searching possible highway routes.
‘‘We didn’t give up hope, and we always thought that he was there, but it’s very easy for negatives to seep in,’’ his father said.
Temperatures in the area where Joe was found fell as low as 36 F (2 C) overnight.
