A 17-year veteran of the Waco Fire Department is recovering in a Dallas hospital after he was injured in an off-duty accident.
Garth Goodwin suffered second degree burns and a severe spinal cord injury, according to the Caring Bridge page set up by the family.
According to the page, Goodwin was working on an elevated billboard sign and came into contact with high voltage power lines that caused him to fall.
"Maybe 10 to 12 feet above ground, he made contact with the electrical power line with caused him to fall," Waco Fire Chief Bobby Tatum said.
He was rushed to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest in Waco then care-flighted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
Over the weekend, Goodwin had surgery to fuse portions of his spine.
According to Michael Robertson, President of the Waco Professional Firefighters Association Local 478, doctors said there is a low percentage that Goodwin will be able to walk away. Robertson said Goodwin is in good spirits.
"He's tough, he's a fighter. He's a jokester but he's tough, he's a fighter. He's a good firefighter," Robertson said. "He's accepted a lot of it he's not giving up."
Robertson and Tatum said Goodwin is already thinking about how he can go back to work in some capacity.
"He said, 'I want to wear the uniform.' And I said 'Garth that will happen.' And he said 'Chief, I'm going to hold you to it,'" Tatum said.
If you would like to help or donate, click here. You can also donate to the Waco Firefighters Honor Guard by dropping off money at one of the fire stations or contacting them via Facebook. There is also a golf tournament scheduled for July 1st to benefit Goodwin at the Lake Waco Golf Club.
To follow updates on how Goodwin is doing, click here.
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