“I wanted to be able to say I did it,” said Signal Mountain High School senior Cutler Cole of his decision to do a back flip off the 37-foot cliff in Hixson’s Hidden Harbour neighborhood.
SMHS senior Lawson Kennamer, left, pulled classmate Cutler Cole from the water after a spinal cord injury left him temporarily paralyzed when he did a back flip off the 37-foot cliff in Hixson’s Hidden Harbour neighborhood. Aside from some lingering pain in his hands, Cole has fully recovered from his spinal injury.Even more impressive was his ability to recover from the temporary paralysis he experienced after the jump.
Cole said he was underwater a total of just five to eight seconds before his friend, fellow SMHS senior Lawson Kennamer, who jumped from the cliff first, noticed he was sinking and pulled him from the water.
“I didn’t feel anything,” said Cole of the first 15 minutes after he hit the water. “My neck didn’t even hurt.”
A short while later, he said a burning sensation began to set in in his hands and feet.