Support for George Ritter (‘17)

Twenty-one-year-old George Ritter of Massapequa was seriously injured in an industrial accident on November 24, 2020. While waiting to unload 40’ steel IBeams, something went wrong and a couple of beams broke free and fell, landing on Georgie. “We were so close to losing him, we’re just thankful he’s alive,” says his mother, Ginny Geerlings Ritter. Georgie has sustained serious injuries including a rod in his right leg due to an open fracture of both his tibia and fibula, his left ankle had to be repaired. His pelvis, especially his sacrum, has serious damage. The surgeons were able to repair his pelvis, but it’s not strong enough to be weight bearing. Another surgery is planned tomorrow, when a neurosurgeon will attach his spine directly to his pelvis. He broke four ribs; one punctured his lung. His large intestine died, which required a colon resection, with an ileostomy, which will hopefully be reversed in a couple of months. His kidney was bleeding, but thankfully repaired itself. Georgie spends his summers as an ocean lifeguard, along with his dad, at Tobay Beach’s West End. Georgie’s dad, Big George, is a retired NYPD police officer and has just completed his 48th summer lifeguarding at Tobay. In 2016, Georgie was awarded a Citation of Bravery from the Town of Oyster Bay for rescuing a woman who had fallen off a boat in the state channel. Without a moment’s hesitation, George jumped on a kayak and paddled her to a safer area, where she could be rescued. No one knows what the future holds for George. He’s still in Good Samaritan Hospital and will be moved at a later date to St. Charles in Port Jefferson for rehab. The Ritter’s home may require changes, depending on George’s needs. No donation is too small, every little bit helps. Please keep George in your prayers.