A young girl named Erin Field was paralyzed after the North End apartment chimney collapsed on her while she was on a hammock tied to the chimney.
Erin suffered multiple injuries after the tragic incident. The lower half of her body was fully paralyzed and for months she could not even speak or eat by herself.
The accident changed not only her body but also her perception of life. She decided to share about her journey and advocate for disability rights.
Field was diagnosed with a condition called Quadriplegic. Although she is in a wheelchair and cannot walk, she aspires to be a Disability Rights Lawyer.
On July 11 which marks the date of the catastrophic incident, she shared a video on her Instagram reciting a poem that she wrote about her journey so far.
Erin Field Chimney Accident – Dead Or Alive?
On July 11, 2017, Erin Field underwent a tragic accident that shattered her life.
Erin and her boyfriend Jack Benziger went to visit her younger brother during their summer break. They decided to enjoy the view of the North End from the apartment’s roof.
Erin’s brother had set up a hammock on the roof that was attached to the chimney.
The girl sat on the hammock and the whole chimney collapsed on her instantly after her boyfriend sat beside her. She does not even remember what happened afterward.
A few months after the accident, Field filed a lawsuit charge against the Eagle Nest Outfitters company that sold the hammock and advertised unsafe use of the products. They charged the company for falsely encouraging people to tie the hammocks which led to such devastating accidents.
Erin was immediately rushed to the Massachusetts General Hospital where she was declared paralyzed. She is still optimistic about her health and hopes to walk again someday.
Erin Field Injuries: Is Erin Field Paralyzed Now?
The incident left Erin with several injuries to her spinal cords, neck, chest, and legs.
The victim had crushed ribs, broken cervical spine, C-5, and C-6 vertebrae quadriplegic which paralyzed her body below the waist and limited the functioning of her arms.
Erin could not speak, eat and drink because of tracheotomy. She was fed via a feeding tube for more than two months.
Field was moved to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital after numerous surgeries for her speedy recovery.
She is still not fully recovered. Her shoulders are dislocated and she still cannot get her legs to work properly.
A GoFundMe page was started by her sister Riley Field when Erin was in ICU. The page has already collected $79,540 in order to fund the medical charges and other educational expenses.
Erin Field Age & Family
Erin Field was only 21 years old when she went through the horrible North End accident.
Erin is dependent on her caretakers and family in order to move and go to school. Her younger brother Todd was sorry for whatever happened in his apartment.
Her mother Heidi Field supported her decision to go back to school. Erin missed a semester of school but she was headstrong to finish school.
In January 2018, Erin headed back to Goucher, Maryland, and finished her final year. She took online classes and now she is attending a law school.
Erin grew up with four siblings- Leigh, Riley, Todd, and Tobin. Her father Lee Field owns a property maintenance business.
The girl started reading about disabled people and decided to be a helping hand to many others by sharing her stories too. So she launched her Youtube channel.
Field is currently 25 years old. Her boyfriend Jack has not left her side during the difficult times.