Leading University of Southern California RB In Critical But Stable Condition

[BeachGirlFLA]

USC running back Stafon Johnson was hospitalized in critical but stable condition today after over seven hours of surgery for injuries suffered while weightlifting. The specialized surgery was required because of a threatened airway and severe injuries to Johnson's larynx, according to Dr. Gordon Hinika, trauma medical center director at California Hospital Medical Center.
According to Hinika, it is unlikely Johnson will play again this season, but doctors expect a full recovery. "Stafon is doing very well," Hinika said. "He underwent very successful surgery, as we stated yesterday was over seven hours. He rested well. Actually, this morning, he's communicating with his mother and his USC team."
Johnson was bench pressing with a spotter at a USC weight room around 11 a.m. Monday when the bar slipped out of his right hand and fell at an angle on his throat, according to a statement released by the university.
Hinika said doctors were weaning Johnson off a ventilator. He said the surgery was required to repair Johnson's airway, noting that the structure around the running back's vocal chords was "fractured and displaced."
"This is ... a very, very rare injury, especially from weightlifting," he said. "These are the type of injuries usually it (happened) in the old days when people did not wear a seat belt, and you get an accident and you're thrown through a windshield."
The bench press is commonly regarded as one of the safest exercises in the weight room, especially with a spotter, said strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was within 10 feet of Johnson when the accident occurred.
Johnson, a 5 foot 11 inch, 210-pound senior, rushed for 157 yards on 32 carries and a team-high five touchdowns this year. He was USC's leading rusher in 2008 with 705 yards.

 

[DizBelle]

So, where was the spotter when this happened?

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I was wondering whether he even had a spotter when I first heard it, but the article says he did. I think I'd have a heck of a lot of guilt if I were that spotter (not saying it was definitely his fault, but I'd second guess myself.) Johnson could have easily been killed.

 

[christineann]

Poor kid! I hope he makes a full recovery.

 

[FireDancer]

I've seen weight room injuries but nothing like this. Hopefully he is ok. It was most likely not the spotters fault. A spotter is there to assist the person lifting the weights, not catch a fully loaded bar that has just been dropped. I spend a lot of time in the gym and the control of the weight is the responsibility of the person lifting it. A spotter is there to help, not catch a loaded bar falling at the rate of gravity.