It was a freak accident.
By all accounts, DeAires Lynn, a Southwestern College freshman football player from Texas, was merely playing in a pick-up basketball game with some fellow students last week at the Winfield Recreation Center when he went up for a layup. He fell to the ground and as he sat there on the court, someone fell on Lynn.
Either the fall itself, the collision, or both, injured Lynn’s neck.
In that brief moment a regular day turned into a life-changing one. Lynn had little or no feeling in his extremities. Someone called an ambulance and he was taken to William Newton Hospital and later transferred to Wichita. That was Dec. 2.
A week later, he has regained some movement in all of his limbs and his overall physical health is good, according to Ken Crandall, SC’s head football coach. But it remains to be seen how fully Lynn will recover. An injury to the neck and spine – it is unclear whether there was an actual fracture – caused spinal damage and it’s too soon to tell what his long-term prognosis might be, Crandall said.
When – or even if – Lynn walks again and regains full movement in his limbs will be determined by how serious the damage is to his spinal cord and how well he responds to physical therapy.
"He has a long road ahead of him," Crandall said. "But he’s a great kid with a great attitude and that will help him immensely. He’s ready to get started and he wants everyone to know he appreciates their interest in how he’s doing. He’s upbeat."
Crandall was in Wichita Monday when Lynn was moved from a hospital into a facility where he’ll undergo physical therapy. A hospital spokesperson said Lynn was listed in good condition the day he left.
Scott Schoon, director for the Winfield Recreation Commission, said the commission is required to review the accident and file a report. Since no rec center employee saw the accident as it happened, information was taken from accounts given by those in the gym with Lynn at the time.
The commission has its main gym open to the public whenever there are no scheduled activities.
"We have a large contingent of students from the college that come to play and we love to see them here," Schoon said. "And we’ll have twists and sprains, but nothing major like this."
Southwestern officials said Lynn is freshman from the Dallas area. He arrived on campus earlier this year not knowing how much he would play but by the end of the season he was earning time at the running back position.
At least one member of the coaching staff has been with Lynn in Wichita at all times since the accident, Crandall said.
"Whether or not he ever plays football again is the last thing we’re worried about at this point," the coach said. "We’re just praying for him and wanting him to see him recover."
