By C1 Staff
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — CO Christopher Hankinson’s life was forever changed the night that the Escambia County Jail exploded due to an alleged natural gas leak.
According to PNJ, Hankinson was left paralyzed from the waist down when he fell through a hole in the floor into the flooded basement following the explosion. The impact crushed his vertebrae, multiple ribs and a shoulder blade.
And he would have likely drowned down there, if it weren’t for the heroism of a co-worker.
“She was sitting at her desk one minute,” describes Kelley Gonzalez, the daughter of Kelley Bradford, the co-worker who helped Hankinson’s head above water for nearly an hour while they waited for help to arrive. “And the next, she’s coming up out of the water in the basement. It was completely dark except for one fluorescent light that was kind of hanging from the ceiling.”
Bradford also sustained injuries during the explosion. “I mean, it looks like a gang of folks went at her with a baseball bat on her legs,” her daughter said. “She’s bruised up real bad, but she’s alive.”
Hankinson’s wife declined an interview, but said her husband was currently recovering from surgery at the UAB hospital. She expressed thankfulness for Bradford’s heroic actions.
His niece, Carmen Stone, set up a fundraiser in the days after her uncle’s injury. She said that though the workman’s compensation will cover the initial medical expenses, the family will end up paying for travel, lodging, aftercare and other costs.
As of Sunday, 55 people have donated a total a $4,510 to the family. To join the cause, visit visit www.gofundme.com/8thhj4.