Rosemary Drury and her husband, Robert, were going for a nightly swim when a misstep led to broken bones, stitches and months of recovery.
But the Drurys realize what could’ve been lost. And they took the opportunity to thank rescue workers this week for their help in a horrific situation.
Rosemary Drury was getting out of the pool at her home when she got tripped up on some stairs and tumbled about 20 feet down into a bed of rocks by the shore of Lake Norman.
Her husband watched in horror and called 911.
Firefighters from the Denver Volunteer Fire Department responded and carefully loaded Drury onto a boat and took her to the hospital.
She broke her neck in three places and required 125 stitches in her scalp. She had five surgeries during the recovery process.
Doctors told her that if she hadn’t been moved so carefully, she could’ve been paralyzed or killed.
Drury spent a month in the hospital and required intensive care at home for a month, Robert Drury said.
“Her recovery has been pretty good. She’s come a long way,” he said.
Rosemary Drury took her terrifying spill Sept. 2, 2012.
“It’s just amazing how something like that happens in one second and changes your whole life,” Robert Drury said.
Now that she’s back on her feet, Drury’s friends and neighbors wanted her to have a chance to meet her rescuers.
Friends Dave and Cindy Rubic and Steve and Georgia Beatty arranged a get-together Wednesday at a home in Denver.
Rosemary Drury told her story of survival, and she, along with friends and families, thanked firefighters for what they had done.
“The firefighters are incredibly professional. They’re real heroes in my mind. God bless them for what they did,” Robert Drury said.
The firefighters were equally grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Drurys, and for the warm welcome they received.
“An opportunity to see the positive outcome of our training and service is truly priceless,” said Dion Burleson, spokesman for the fire department.
You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.