"Ian's Story - The Last Run"
The cool night air was in his face as Ian Tilmann made his last run down the hill on Hercules Avenue in Clearwater, FL. Ian's passion was longboarding. He loved to feel the wind surrounding him as he carved each & every curve down the hill. Police later said Ian was going about 20 mph.
The 28-year-old U.S. Marine Corp veteran and three friends had been skateboarding down the street for several hours. But this would be Ian's last run.
At the foot of the hill the front wheels on his longboard locked up. He was hurled into the night, tumbling headfirst to the hard pavement. Like many other veteran boarders, he wore no helmet. Ian was not getting back up. His friends rushed to his side and called 911.
The impact cracked open his skull from ear to ear. Doctors later said there was evidence of at least four areas of injury to his brain. In the hospital, Ian had to be restrained as he became violent and tried to pull out the intravenous needles. The doctors said this was evidence of deep brain injuries.
Doctors induced a coma to keep him calm and he was placed on life-supporting machines. But Ian's brain was swelling inside of his skull – pressing against the bone. In the following days, doctors fought the swelling; brain surgery was done to try to help relieve the pressure. The doctors could do nothing more...Ian's brain damage was too severe. Ian never regained consciousness....
Ten days later on May 26, 2005, Ian Tilmann died. If Ian had been wearing a helmet, he would still be alive and skating.
In the days following Ian's accident, the family remained in a state of shock & disbelief..."but he was only skateboarding!"
In memory of Ian, the family has made a commitment to promote helmet use to skateboarders. The family decided on buying helmets and giving them to skateboarders for free if they pledged first to wear the helmet whenever they rode their boards. The program was first launched in Safety Harbor’s skateboard park. The City of Safety Harbor dedicated their skate park to Ian Tilmann in April 2007 & renamed it The Ian Tilmann Skate Park.
In November 2005, The Ian Tilmann Foundation was created in memory of our son. The Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity. The Ian Tilmann Foundation's "Helmet For A Promise" program provides free custom-ordered skater's helmets to skateboarders nationwide that promise to wear the helmet whenever they skate. The Foundation created the "Skate Smart Project" to help get the information out to skateboarders about the risk of brain injuries when skateboarding without a helmet. Remember Ian's message to all skateboarders....
"Skate Smart...Wear A Helmet...Live To Skate Tomorrow!"
The 28-year-old U.S. Marine Corp veteran and three friends had been skateboarding down the street for several hours. But this would be Ian's last run.
At the foot of the hill the front wheels on his longboard locked up. He was hurled into the night, tumbling headfirst to the hard pavement. Like many other veteran boarders, he wore no helmet. Ian was not getting back up. His friends rushed to his side and called 911.
The impact cracked open his skull from ear to ear. Doctors later said there was evidence of at least four areas of injury to his brain. In the hospital, Ian had to be restrained as he became violent and tried to pull out the intravenous needles. The doctors said this was evidence of deep brain injuries.
Doctors induced a coma to keep him calm and he was placed on life-supporting machines. But Ian's brain was swelling inside of his skull – pressing against the bone. In the following days, doctors fought the swelling; brain surgery was done to try to help relieve the pressure. The doctors could do nothing more...Ian's brain damage was too severe. Ian never regained consciousness....
Ten days later on May 26, 2005, Ian Tilmann died. If Ian had been wearing a helmet, he would still be alive and skating.
In the days following Ian's accident, the family remained in a state of shock & disbelief..."but he was only skateboarding!"
In memory of Ian, the family has made a commitment to promote helmet use to skateboarders. The family decided on buying helmets and giving them to skateboarders for free if they pledged first to wear the helmet whenever they rode their boards. The program was first launched in Safety Harbor’s skateboard park. The City of Safety Harbor dedicated their skate park to Ian Tilmann in April 2007 & renamed it The Ian Tilmann Skate Park.
In November 2005, The Ian Tilmann Foundation was created in memory of our son. The Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity. The Ian Tilmann Foundation's "Helmet For A Promise" program provides free custom-ordered skater's helmets to skateboarders nationwide that promise to wear the helmet whenever they skate. The Foundation created the "Skate Smart Project" to help get the information out to skateboarders about the risk of brain injuries when skateboarding without a helmet. Remember Ian's message to all skateboarders....
"Skate Smart...Wear A Helmet...Live To Skate Tomorrow!"
Comment
-
Comment by In Loving Memory Of Ian Lee Tilmann on April 12, 2009 at 1:34pm - Thank you Cat for reading "Ian's Story" & for your support. I know that you are aware of what happened to Ian, but many other skaters are not so I do continue to post & hope Ian's message is heard. It means so much to me that you understand the importance of wearing a helmet when you skate. I love the fact that you tell other skaters how important it is & how wearing a helmet SAVED YOUR LIFE:) Thank You!
-
Comment by Cat on April 12, 2009 at 12:13am -
Thank you for sharing this story again. It only takes one time.
I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I had not had a helmet
on when I took my slam last summer. My helmet saved MY life.
WEAR A HELMET!
Please Support Our Sponsors
TSJ Donates 5% Of All Ad Revenue To Board Rescue
About
© 2009 Created by Jack Smith
You need to be a member of Skateboarder's Journal to add comments!
Join this Ning Network