Austin High School Art Teacher Suffers Serious Injuries in Tree Cutting Mishap

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News)- A southeast Minnesota high school teacher suffered serious injuries following a tree cutting mishap over the Labor Day Weekend. 

See Also: Man in His 100's Injured in Crash Involving Semi Near Lake City 

A GoFundMe fundraiser for the educator says he suffered the injuries Saturday. He was flown to a hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit following the mishap, the fundraiser says. 

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Austin High School Art Teacher Suffers Serious Injuries in Fall From Ladder Over Labor Day Weekend

Jesse Smith is an art teacher at Austin High School. The fundraiser says he fell from a ladder while cutting down a tree that fell in his backyard. 

Smith was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester after the fall. He suffered a laceration to his lung caused by 10 broken ribs and a broken collarbone, the fundraiser says. 

He had titanium placed between his ribs in effort to speed up his recovery and underwent surgery on Monday that fixed most of his ribs. The Mayo Clinic surgeons also cleared a blood clot from Smith’s chest, the GoFundMe page says. 

"Prayers & well wishes are needed now that he is out of surgery. Thank you everyone for your continued support,” a September 1 update to the fundraiser says. 

See Also: At Least One Killed in Crash at Intersection Near Small Minnesota Lake Town 

An update posted on Tuesday says Smith will be moved out of the ICU and into the general hospital area where he will begin recovery. 

Smith’s family has been traveling back and forth between Rochester and Austin and has been staying in hotels. The fundraiser also says the Smith family is facing medical bills. 

So far more than $14,000 has been raised for the Smith family. The fundraiser’s goal is to raise $16,000 and donations are still being accepted as of Wednesday morning.