'Lucky to be alive': U.S. man loses eye in hiking injury on B.C.'s West Coast Trail
CTV
A Texas man is in hospital after he lost an eye in a hiking injury on the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, B.C.
A Texas man is in hospital after he lost an eye in a hiking injury on the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, B.C.
Edward Steinkamp was hiking the trail with his son on May 3 when he fell and had a branch pierce through his eye and partially into his brain.
Steinkamp was airlifted to hospital for what Parks Canada described as "serious injuries" at the time, though the organization noted that the man was in "stable condition."
A rescue helicopter is pictured on the West Coast Trail. (MARPAC)
On Friday, a family member said Steinkamp had lost his eye because of the injury and the branch had penetrated his frontal lobe.
"The surgeon said, 'You're lucky to be alive, you've got this branch in your brain," said the hiker's brother, Peter Steinkamp.
He's set to undergo further surgery due to an infection on Friday.
"It looks like he lost one eye because when he fell on the branch it severed an optic nerve," said the man's brother.
