UT student paralyzed after diving into Fort Loudoun Lake

UT student paralyzed after diving into Fort Loudoun Lake

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Kellie Morris, 20, was on a boat with friends near Louisville Landing Marina when she dove into the lake for relief from the heat. Kellie Morris, 20, was on a boat with friends near Louisville Landing Marina when she dove into the lake for relief from the heat.
"We were in the middle of the lake. There was no reason you would think twice about jumping in," Hope Westall said. "We were in the middle of the lake. There was no reason you would think twice about jumping in," Hope Westall said.
"She's communicating with us and she's in a lot of pain," said Karen Mooney, Kellie's mom. "She's communicating with us and she's in a lot of pain," said Karen Mooney, Kellie's mom.
"I've never seen two in a row, a week apart with almost the exact same injury," said UT Medical Center neurosurgeon Dr. Todd Abel. "I've never seen two in a row, a week apart with almost the exact same injury," said UT Medical Center neurosurgeon Dr. Todd Abel.

By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A University of Tennessee student and rugby player became paralyzed from the chest down after diving into Fort Loudoun Lake.

Kellie Morris, 20, was on a boat with friends near Louisville Landing Marina on June 30 when she dove into the lake for relief from the heat.
 
"It was really hot out there so we got, like, five minutes past the no-wake zone and we said, 'Let's just jump in,'" said Hope Westall, Kellie's friend.

Morris dove in and then cried for help, saying she couldn't feel anything. Westall helped bring her to safety.

Westall says the water was only thigh high.

Morris was rushed to UT Medical Center.

"It was really weird because we weren't by the bank. We were in the middle of the lake. There was no reason you would think twice about jumping in," Westall said.

Morris is unable to move anything below her chest.

"She's communicating with us and she's in a lot of pain," said Karen Mooney, Kellie's mom. "A lot of pain medications on board, but she is communicating with us. She has minimal use of her arms, nothing from her legs yet." 

Mooney says she can't believe her daughter's life was changed so fast.

"If anyone can come back from this injury it's going to be Kellie. Please, please, please do not dive into the water," Mooney said.

UT Medical Center neurosurgeon Dr. Todd Abel performed surgery on Kellie and then did the same surgery just days later on another young man who was also swimming in the lake.

"I've never seen two in a row, a week apart with almost the exact same injury -- the same diving into Fort Loudoun Lake," Dr. Abel said.

He recommends being cautious no matter where you swim.

"Not only the lakes but the pools, if you jump in jump feet first it's better to break your ankles than to break your neck," he said.

Kellie's family says she was supposed to join the Navy this September.

A spokesperson for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reminds you should always check out an area before you swim.

The terrain underwater is always changing and you never know how shallow an area could be or what rocks and logs may have shifted.

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