When Your Parachute Fails
The Paul Rizzo Story

Accidents Happen at the Worst Times

1. Paul’s experience in Skydiving –
30 years in the sport / over 2,000+ skydives. 2018 was on team Shapeshifter, a 8-way formation team. Team Shapeshifter went on to win the 2018 USPA National Championship.
2. Paul’s accident –
5/12/18 Paul was doing a 4-way, the jump was uneventful. It was a windy day, gusts around 25 miles an hour. Paul was attempting a high performance landing, as he turned into the wind at approximately 100’ feet his canopy collapsed and he crashed into the ground at a high rate of speed
3. Paul’s immediate treatment after the accident-
Air-Cared to Miami Valley Hospital / aortic transection
4. Paul’s extensive surgeries after the accident –

Procedure - Date

EndoStent Abdominal Thoracic - 5/12/18
Cystoscopy - 5/12/18
Wound irrigation Debridement Knee/Lower Leg - 5/12/18
Wound irrigation Debridement Knee/Lower Leg 5/13/18
Other Lower Extremity External Fixation 5/13/18
External fixation Pelvis 5/13/18
Wound Vac Application / change 5/13/18
Removal Hardware Pelvis 5/17/18
Removal External Fixatore Lower Extremities 5/17/18
Open Reduction Internal Fixation Pelvis 5/17/18
Open Reduction Internal Fixation Tibia Proximal 5/17/18
Endoscopic Spinal Fusion W/instrumentation 5/22/18
Removal External Fixator Lower Extremity 5/31/18
Open Reduction Internal Fixation Tibia Distal 5/31/18
Orif Foot 5/31/18

Spinal reconstruction by Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli, Germany 5/17/19

5. Paul’s condition when he came to Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli Extreme discomfort-> Unable to walk more than a few yards. Paul’s condition after Dr. Bertagnoli -> Excellent!! No pain, no medications. Mobility greatly increased.

Imaging X-rays before Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli and after fusion in the USA, which left him unable to walk more than a few yards within a year.

X-rays after Dr. Bertagnoli

To see and hear Paul and his own words on TV click here