Saturday, September 17, 2005
by Tom Kimmel
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada. -- What started out as a routine hunting
trip turned into a nightmare for Chris Hamby, president of BryMak &
Associates, an associate sponsor on both the #23 and #26 Keith Coleman
Racing entries on the NASCAR Busch Series.
While goose hunting in the Canadian wilderness, Hamby was injured
when a shotgun accidentally discharged and he was shot in the left
foot at close range. The damage was extensive and the injury was
compounded by the remoteness of the location.
To receive medical care Hamby, his father, Terry, president of BMAR
- another KCR sponsor, and his brother-in-law, Bill Mitchell, had to
travel 20 minutes by boat, then drive more than 45 minutes before
reaching a clinic. After that, he was forced to travel another hour
and a half before arriving at a hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.
“From what I’ve been told he is lucky to be alive,” said Keith
Coleman, team owner. “He really lost a lot of blood and he could have
bled to death before receiving medical attention.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hambys,” said Mark Green,
driver of the #23 BMAR Chevrolet. “Chris is an important part of the
KCR family and for us this is no different than if it was one of our
crew members. He’s a part of the team and we wish him well.”
Hamby has already gone through two operations and another is
imminent. More surgeries are possible over what promises to be a long
recovery period of at least six months or longer.
“Obviously we were shocked to learn about the accident but at the
same time we are just grateful that he is going to be okay,” Coleman
said. “He’s going to have a rough time of it, but knowing Chris he’ll
come through it just fine.”
