DULUTH — The condition of a Rochester teenager who suffered serious injuries after a tree fell on his tent during a Father's Day camping trip continues to improve.
Jacob Walz was listed in fair condition on Friday, according to Essentia Health-St. Marys Medical Center spokeswoman Maureen Talarico. The 14-year-old was initially listed in critical condition after being airlifted to the Duluth hospital on Sunday following the accident.
Walz suffered two broken femurs, a broken wrist, and a shattered ankle. His back was broken in two places, according to a CaringBridge website .
Walz's father, 43-year-old Craig Walz, was killed in the storm. He was a math and science teacher at St. Charles High School. He is also 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz's brother.
Rep. Tim Walz posted on the CaringBridge site that his nephew is being fitted with a back brace and a new neck brace. Despite being sore, Walz wrote that "in true Jake fashion, he won''t complain."
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His uncle also wrote, "The pain we are feeling for Jake is so raw to be almost unbearable. I can't begin to understand why this beautiful child is being asked to endure this burden."
