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Medina teen seriously injured after fall at Whipp's Ledges in Hinckley Reservation: GoFundMe tops $55,000

16-year-old Jake Wuersig sustained a traumatic brain injury, as well as numerous facial and skull fractures. He is unconscious and on a ventilator.

HINCKLEY, Ohio — A Medina teen is hospitalized with serious injuries after falling approximately 30 feet from the top of Whipp's Ledges at the Cleveland Metroparks' Hinckley Reservation on Tuesday.

According to a report from Cleveland Metroparks police, 16-year-old Jacob "Jake" Wuersig was attempting to jump a gap between the rock ledges on his own. Jake apparently landed on the other side, but his feet slipped out from under him, causing him to fall down the ledge. Witnesses told officers that Jake tried to grab a dead bush, but it gave out and he ended up hitting two or three rocks on his fall.

Jake was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center via Life Flight for treatment. Metroparks officers report that while being treated, Jake experienced a seizure because of his injuries. Jake's mother, Jennifer Wuersig, has also been providing updates on her son's progress on Facebook. On Wednesday, she wrote, "He (Jake) sustained a traumatic brain injury, as well as numerous facial and skull fractures. Jake is unconscious and on a ventilator. He has a severely broken wrist, a damaged carotid artery, a lacerated ear, as well as multiple cuts and bruises." 

You can read her update on Jake's condition from Friday below:

A GoFundMe site has been created by friends of the Wuersig family to help with Jake's medical expenses. More than $55,000 had been raised as of 6:15 a.m. Monday.

"We were so loved by all of you with your generous collections and donations," Jennifer Wuersig added on Facebook. "Life flight runs around $50,000 and Metro is out of network for our insurance. One day in the ICU is another $30-50 K. Jake is not stable enough to transport to another hospital so we are praying for God’s provision in a very difficult situation. You donations are such a blessing."  

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