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Diving accident leaves Beloit man fighting for life
By Jen Scherer
Daily News staff writer
A day of fun on the river turned tragic when a young Beloit man dove into shallow water.
Ben Karr, 23, of the 2200 block of Madison Road, Beloit, broke his neck and is currently in intensive care at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
Ben was boating with friends Sunday, tubing and generally having fun when the accident happened, said his father Dave Karr.
It was not unusual for Ben to be out on the river, water skiing and tubing. The 2000 Beloit Turner High School graduate is an athletic man who participated in pretty much every available sport in high school, including football and track; notably he was a pole vaulter, Karr said.
"You would think that would be one way to hurt your neck," Karr said in a phone interview from Madison.
Instead, Ben did the kid of thing young fearless people do; he spontaneously dove off the boat into the water, which was sadly too shallow.
Ben's neck was broken immediately and he might have died were it not for the quick action of local nurse Becky Bauman. Ben was in her brother's boat, Karr explained.
"(She) gave first aid and resuscitation until they got to the point where the ambulance crew was helping him," he said. "She saved his life."
Bauman tended to Ben as they frantically transported him down the river about a mile to Preservation Park in the Town of Beloit, where they were met by Town of Beloit and Beloit ambulance crews.
Ben is now in the University of Wisconsin Hospital Trauma Life Center, unit 2. Karr said he sustained fractures to his C-4 vertebra, has paralyses below the shoulders and is on assisted breathing. He is scheduled for surgery, but his condition is still very serious.
"He's not out of the woods yet," Karr said. "He still has life threatening injuries."
Karr said the recovery will be long-term and the extent of his recovery won't be known for about 18 months because of the spinal injury.
Ben is a self-employed carpenter who lives with him mom, Julie Karr, and one older brother and one younger brother. Another older brother lives in Muskego.
Karr said his son completed firefighter training last spring but has not yet achieved a career in that field.
Ben has many friends, including a girlfriend, and people have been heading to the hospital in droves to support him. One of his cousins even flew in from Florida to see him.
Ben's family has asked their friends and family via e-mail to keep Ben and the Karrs in their prayers. They did advise that visits are restricted in ICU.
The e-mail further states that Ben has a team of "top notch experts" attending to him and family will be with him throughout the lengthy recovery.
Town of Beloit Fire Chief Dennis Ahrens said he has worked with the department 31 years and this might be the second diving accident he can recall, though there may have been others the department hasn't been called for response.
He reminded people to always check the depth of the water before diving or jumping in.
"Rock River is noted for being shallow. There's only a few places in the river that's significantly deep," Ahrens said. "It's noted for (being) a shallow river. But does everybody know that? No."
Ahrens said there are only a few places where the current is swift and there's a sandy bottom to attract swimmers. Most of the river has a "mucky bottom."
Ben Karr, 23, of the 2200 block of Madison Road, Beloit, broke his neck and is currently in intensive care at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
Ben was boating with friends Sunday, tubing and generally having fun when the accident happened, said his father Dave Karr.
It was not unusual for Ben to be out on the river, water skiing and tubing. The 2000 Beloit Turner High School graduate is an athletic man who participated in pretty much every available sport in high school, including football and track; notably he was a pole vaulter, Karr said.
"You would think that would be one way to hurt your neck," Karr said in a phone interview from Madison.
Instead, Ben did the kid of thing young fearless people do; he spontaneously dove off the boat into the water, which was sadly too shallow.
Ben's neck was broken immediately and he might have died were it not for the quick action of local nurse Becky Bauman. Ben was in her brother's boat, Karr explained.
"(She) gave first aid and resuscitation until they got to the point where the ambulance crew was helping him," he said. "She saved his life."
Bauman tended to Ben as they frantically transported him down the river about a mile to Preservation Park in the Town of Beloit, where they were met by Town of Beloit and Beloit ambulance crews.
Ben is now in the University of Wisconsin Hospital Trauma Life Center, unit 2. Karr said he sustained fractures to his C-4 vertebra, has paralyses below the shoulders and is on assisted breathing. He is scheduled for surgery, but his condition is still very serious.
"He's not out of the woods yet," Karr said. "He still has life threatening injuries."
Karr said the recovery will be long-term and the extent of his recovery won't be known for about 18 months because of the spinal injury.
Ben is a self-employed carpenter who lives with him mom, Julie Karr, and one older brother and one younger brother. Another older brother lives in Muskego.
Karr said his son completed firefighter training last spring but has not yet achieved a career in that field.
Ben has many friends, including a girlfriend, and people have been heading to the hospital in droves to support him. One of his cousins even flew in from Florida to see him.
Ben's family has asked their friends and family via e-mail to keep Ben and the Karrs in their prayers. They did advise that visits are restricted in ICU.
The e-mail further states that Ben has a team of "top notch experts" attending to him and family will be with him throughout the lengthy recovery.
Town of Beloit Fire Chief Dennis Ahrens said he has worked with the department 31 years and this might be the second diving accident he can recall, though there may have been others the department hasn't been called for response.
He reminded people to always check the depth of the water before diving or jumping in.
"Rock River is noted for being shallow. There's only a few places in the river that's significantly deep," Ahrens said. "It's noted for (being) a shallow river. But does everybody know that? No."
Ahrens said there are only a few places where the current is swift and there's a sandy bottom to attract swimmers. Most of the river has a "mucky bottom."
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