CALGARY — A survivor of a deadly crash during an after-hours visit to a luge-bobsled track is crediting his deep faith for helping with his recovery.
Caleb Hettinga suffered critical injuries when he and seven other teens climbed over a fence at Calgary's Canada Olympic Park in the wee hours of Feb. 6 and went down the run on three plastic sleds. They hit a large gate used to separate the luge and bobsled tracks.
In a video posted to social media, Caleb thanks members of his family's church for their prayers and support. A metal halo circles the top of his head and a patch covers his right eye.
"One thing that I learned through this experience is that God never leaves you alone to suffer through an experience like this," says the 18-year-old.
"A lot of people would probably get really depressed after something like this. But I've really felt a peace and a hope through this."
Caleb's grandfather, Larry Sagert, told parishioners in another video that the youths had no idea there was a barricade on the run. He said "five of the eight boys were clotheslined by a heavy chain."
The impact "smashed every bone" of his grandson's face, broke the base of his skull and cost him the vision in his right eye, Sagert said.
Twin 17-year-old brothers Evan and Jordan Caldwell, who had worked at the facility the previous summer, were killed.
Caleb's uncle, Mark Hettinga of Saskatoon, said Tuesday that the teen got out of hospital a few weeks ago and is continuing to recover at home.
Hettinga plans to hold a silent auction this weekend to raise money to help out his brother's family, which is facing high medical expenses.
"It's to raise money for the whole family, for all the major expenses they're going to have to come across — the dental, the orthodontist and physio, and all those that aren't covered."
The Caldwell Fund, a fundraising effort by the relatives of the two boys who died, has also been hard at work to help out and has raised $46,665 to date.
Hettinga said Caleb's "whole face pretty much had to be rebuilt" and he continues to wear a halo to support his head because of the neck fracture, although he is able to walk and the prognosis for recovery is good.
"He's pretty good," Hettinga said of his nephew. "He's a fighter. He's determined to come through and get back on track. He's determined to get better."
The family has relied on the help of friends and their church. Caleb's parents, Justin and Tammy Hettinga, have worked as missionaries in Peru. Justin Hettinga has also worked at the Calgary headquarters of Bible translator Wycliffe Canada.
"It's been a challenge, to say the least," said Mark Hettinga. "But they're getting through it, day by day. Their faith has got them through a lot of it."
In his address to the church, Caleb's grandfather remarked that the teen did not lose consciousness at any point in his ordeal and remembers praying, "Lord, I'm ready," because he thought death was at hand.
Mark Hettinga agreed that Caleb has relied on his spirituality throughout his recovery.
"Without it, we'd be a lot more concerned, I think," he said. "It's given him motivation and comfort. Obviously it's a very emotional event, with everything going on, so just having that comfort and peace made a real difference for him."
Police have said no one will face criminal charges. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled multiple blunt force trauma was the cause of the deaths, and drugs or alcohol were not believed to have been factors.
The other boys who survived suffered a range of injuries, but Caleb's were the most critical.
