Hope student paralyzed in Warrior Dash

MT. MORRIS, Mich. (WOOD) - A Hope College student was seriously injured after participating in an extreme sporting event over the weekend.

According to a campus email sent by Hope College Dean Richard Frost Monday, senior James Sa was hurt Sunday afternoon while participating in what's known as the Warrior Dash.

The campus email states that Sa is paralyzed from the chest down.

Frost says that James is an exceptional student, musician, and a key member of both the Centurion fraternity and Pull.

"This is a huge tragedy and while the injury is not life threatening being paralyzed is devastating to James and all his family and friends," Frost said. "Please keep James, his family and friends and his medical team in your prayers."

On its website, the Warrior Dash is described as "a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme run from hell." Warrior Dash events are held in more than 30 cities across the United States and one event in Australia.

The Michigan Warrior Dash was held in Mt. Morris, near Flint, over a period of two days, Saturday and Sunday July 30th and 31st. Sa participated in Sunday's run.

Kentwood's Angela Worth also participated in the Michigan Warrior Dash over the weekend during the Saturday session. Worth says the Warrior Dash is a 5k run with multiple obstacles. She describes it as a fun challenge.

"This Warrior Dash event had about 12 obstacle courses and they varied from jumping over cars, to crawling over logs in the water, and crawling through mud and cargo nets. It was a lot of fun," Worth said.

Michigan's Warrior Dash drew more than 20 thousand participants over the two days. Another runner tells 24 Hour News 8, announcers at the event said it was the second largest Warrior Dash in the country so far this year.

Worth says there was medical staff circling the course at all times and there were two ambulances on site. She says men and women participated at the same time, and runners could skip obstacles and complete the course at their own pace.

"If you go to their website, they have different fitness routines that they suggest you get prepared for the event, and they had beginner, intermediate, and advanced," she said.

Warrior Dash runs are put on by Red Frog Events based out of Chicago. 24 Hour News 8 placed several calls to Warrior Dash officials Monday night, but did not hear back.