Kathy Ormsby Is Permanently Paralyzed From Waist Down

Distance runner Kathy Ormsby of North Carolina State is permanently paralyzed from the waist down following her suicide attempt, the chief of neurosurgery at Wishard Memorial Hospital said Friday.

“Given the nature of her fracture, we just would be misleading her if we gave any possibility at all of regaining the use of her legs,” said Dr. Peter Hall, the physician supervising Ormsby’s treatment. “This is as absolutely permanent as we can determine.”

Ormsby, 21, suffered multiple spinal fractures, a punctured lung and a broken rib when she jumped from a bridge minutes after dropping out of the women’s 10,000-meter run in the NCAA Outdoor track and field championships here Wednesday night.

She had been favored to win after setting the women’s collegiate record for the distance only six weeks ago, but was trailing when she dropped out.

The reason for the leap from the New York Street bridge over the White River remained unclear, but fellow athletes speculated that it may have been caused by pressure to perform.

Ormsby, of Rockingham, N.C., fell an estimated 40-50 feet before hitting in a flood plain about 20 feet from the water. “Given the distance she fell, she’s very lucky she’s not quadriplegic,” Hall said. “She could have easily died.”

Hall said she has complete use of her arms and is awake and aware of her injuries. Her family told her Friday morning that the injuries would be permanent, he said.

“The family has been talking with her, and she is doing very well,” Hall said. “She is able to cope with it. She’s a brave kid.”