Teenager Suffers Horrifying Injuries After Serious Snowmobile Crash

An Alaskan teenager recalled sustaining horrific injuries in a disastrous snowmobile accident earlier this month.

Fifteen-year-old Ryan Wheat, of Anchorage, spoke to KTUU about the snowmobile crash that sent him careening over a 30-foot ledge. Wheat broke his back in four places and had to be airlifted by rescue responders to a local hospital. “Me, my dad and my buddy were up [on the mountain] snowmachining,” he explained. “I was climbing over a hill. I was planning to let off and coast down the other side of it and when I got to the top…my track caught on a stump,” Wheat continued. “And it launched me about 15 feet up over the hill and I fell about 35, 40 feet.”

According to a GoFundMe set up by Wheat’s aunt, Nancy Beratto, the crash caused the teenager “to fly over a 30-foot ledge” on the side of the mountain. Wheat broke his back in four places and had to wait three hours before paramedics arrived to transport him to Anchorage’s Providence Alaska Medical Center.

Wheat’s father, Mike, told KTUU that he initially “didn’t know how" severe his son’s injury was. “I was in front and looked back and I just kind of saw him stump and fall off the edge of the machine,” Mike said. "I was just hoping he kind of had the air knocked out of him. I probably gave it about 10 minutes and realized it was a little more severe.”

“He actually himself told me his back was broke [sic],” reported the victim’s mother, Amber. “When I got the phone call, it was one of those phone calls that no mom ever wants to get. I called my friend to run me up to Anchorage and dropped everything I was doing.”

Wheat Underwent Emergency Surgery

Upon arriving at Providence Alaska, Wheat immediately underwent surgery to have 14 screws and two rods inserted placed in his back. He’s still recovering in the hospital, and has “a pretty long road to recovery,” according to his parents. But there’s already been significant improvement following the surgery.

“He has been able to get up so far and walk to the chair that’s in the room here and sit down,” Amber said. “It’s going to be slow and gradual, and we’re hoping that he gets out of the hospital here by Friday.”

He's Now on the Long Path to Recovery

On Monday, Jan., 26, Amber shared a hopeful update to Facebook, noting that her son “is starting to be himself again and making jokes.” “Ryan had the drainage tube taken out of his back today, [which] gave him a little relief” the post informed. “He is off oxygen and morphine [and] still on muscle relaxer and several pain meds. He was able to walk to the recliner again today with assistance twice and sit for a while,” she continued. “He is still getting dizzy and nauseated to the point of passing out from meds, which he needs for pain management.”

According to witnesses, Wheat “wasn't riding fast or recklessly” at the time of the crash. The GoFundMe has so far raised around $10,000 against its $12,000 goal. The proceeds will help pay for Wheat’s medical care and recovery costs.