ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996 TAG: 9606190031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
The condition of a 10-year-old boy who accidentally hanged himself Thursday night is steadily improving, his grandmother said Tuesday.
Bethany Rooker said Daniel Jason Rooker cannot talk but is doing better.
Daniel remains in the pediatric intensive care unit of Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital.
"He's improving a little bit all the time because of all the wonderful care and prayers," Rooker said.
Daniel accidentally hanged himself while playing in his parents' yard near Claytor Lake. The entire family was working in the yard at the time and quickly found the boy, who was unconscious, state police said. The accident happened about 8 p.m.
When the boy's parents, D. Gregory and Fran Rooker, found their son, he was not breathing and had no pulse. Only through their quick use of CPR did the boy survive, according to the state trooper who investigated the accident.
Trooper J.D. Roark said Daniel tied a rope to the branch of a tree and climbed a nearby fence before he fell or jumped with the rope. The fence was about 5 feet tall.
Daniel's parents cut the rope and immediately administered CPR. It took about 15 minutes for rescue personnel to arrive. The boy was taken to Carilion Radford Community Hospital and then flown to Roanoke where he was originally listed in critical condition.
Bethany Rooker said her grandson's recovery is expected to take a long time, but he "is very, very fortunate to be alive."
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB