“If it wasn’t for Kole, I wouldn’t be here today,” Michael Scornaienchi told Havasu News from his hospital bed. “He saved my life.”
Scornaienchi was practicing for the upcoming IJSBA World Finals at Body Beach when his stand-up bucked, ejecting Scornaienchi over the handlebars about 60 miles per hour, landing on his head and upper-back. Almost immediately, he lost sensation in his limbs and struggled to float. “After managing to roll from his side to his back, the 55-year-old said he felt himself going underwater and thought he was going to drown,” wrote the article.
“About 20 feet away,” it continues, “Kole Cramer, a freshman at Lake Havasu High School, saw the accident take place and rushed to Scornaienchi’s aid. After using the sit-down PWC to reach Scornaienchi, Kole jumped in, picked up the 55-year-old’s head above water and stayed with him until help arrived.” Kole was onsite the same day by sheer coincidence, Amy Cramer, Kole’s mother, said. “Kole’s father Lance was fixing a friend’s personal watercraft and Kole decided to take it on a test drive. That was when he saw Scornaienchi fly off his PWC and hurried to help.”
Thankfully, 55-year-old Scornaienchi – who is currently at Havasu Regional Medical Center – has regained feeling in his legs and minimal feeling in his arms, and is continuing to improve. Although unable to compete as planned, Scornaienchi wishes to watch Kole, 14, who qualified for his third consecutive IJSBA World Finals in the Junior 13-15 Lites, Amateur Ski Lites and Amateur Ski Mod races.
