šØ WESTFIELD ROOFER SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER FALLING FROM ROOF AND BEING IMPALED BY RAILING š
A 24-year-old Westfield roofer is recovering after falling from a roof and being impaled by a metal railing on Saturday. He was airlifted to a hospital with severe chest injuries, and a fundraiser has been started to help with medical expenses.
š WESTFIELD, NJ ā A 24-year-old Westfield man suffered major traumatic injuries Saturday after falling from the roof of a home and landing on a metal staircase railing, according to police.
The incident happened at approximately 1:34 p.m. on the 300 block of Wychwood Road, where police received a 911 call reporting that a man had fallen from a roof and was seriously injured.
According to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, the man had reportedly been inspecting the home's roof while preparing a repair estimate when he fell.
Authorities said the victim landed on the pointed metal edge of a staircase railing, suffering a severe puncture wound to his chest with significant bleeding.
A Westfield police officer arrived at the residence within approximately three and a half minutes and found the victim conscious and alert, but suffering from a substantial chest wound near his right armpit.
š Westfield firefighters provided emergency medical assistance at the scene, including applying a chest seal to the victim's injury.
Due to the severity of his injuries, the man was transported by New Jersey State Police helicopter to University Hospital in Newark. The helicopter landed at a baseball field in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside before the victim was taken to the hospital.
The victim was identified through a fundraiser as Stavros Makris.
According to the fundraiser, Makris suffered a punctured lung along with severe trauma to his chest and ribs, including broken and dislocated ribs. He has reportedly undergone multiple surgeries and could remain hospitalized for several weeks, followed by an extensive recovery.
The Westfield Police Department Detective Bureau investigated the incident and determined that the fall was accidental in nature.
ā¤ļø A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Makris and his family with medical expenses, recovery costs, living expenses and lost income while he is unable to work. The fundraiser has set a goal of $250,000.
š° Garden State News Network wishes Stavros Makris a full recovery and will continue to share updates as they become available.
š This report is based on information provided by the Westfield Police Department and information published by the victim's fundraising campaign.