A 25-year veteran of the Calgary Police Department, with seven of those years spent with the fire unit, is in a Florida hospital after being injured in a diving accident on Saturday.
The children of Scott Sampson, Lance, Brad, Lexi, Lauren and Taylor, are now in West Palm Beach to be with their father while he is lying in a hospital bed at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
“He has a breathing tube down (his throat), which keeps him breathing right now,” said Lance, who has also spent time as a Calgary firefighter.
“It simply came to our notice then. It’s hard to see. ”
Sampson and his wife, Tami, were in Florida so he could attend a fire investigation conference with his service dog.
The couple got together with some friends and went boating during the day, with their boats anchored near a sandbar.
The group was swimming, Lance said, and Sampson was injured when he jumped into the water from the front of the boat.
“He … basically broke the top of his spine, sticking to his brain and making him unconscious for a while,” he said.
The Sampsons say their father had his own fire investigation company and was about to end a career helping many people.
“His retirement was fixed and then that happens,” Brad said.
Daughter Lexi, who lives in Invermere, BC, says her father taught all of her children life lessons.
Calgary Police Officer and Fire Investigator Scott Sampson was injured while sailing in Florida with his wife, and suffered a severe neck injury. (Photo provided)
“It’s pushing us in the right direction,” he said.
“I know he would be grumpy if people tried to help him because he’s always the one trying to help people.”
“He’s a very loving guy,” Lance said.
“It may be a little hard on the sides, but one of his favorite things to tell us was, ‘You only live once, so have fun.’
Sampson’s close friends include radio DJ Gerry Forbes.
Forbes, which spent decades on Calgary airwaves, including CJAY-92, has created a crowdfunding site to help with medical costs. He has amassed more than $ 40,000 in donations through Wednesday afternoon.
Unfortunately, the Sampsons are not covered by insurance. Their children want to stress the importance of reviewing coverage as they did not know that their father’s coverage had expired.
Although she may be in the hospital, her children know she is fighting for her life, at least for one more conversation.
“Actually, we just got back from (the hospital and) we took his service dog to hang out with him and we prayed with the shepherd in and around him and we sent you good positive vibes,” said Lance.
“His pulse went from 50 to 120. So we’re not sure if he’s mentally there listening to us behind everything. So today we have a good feeling. “