The following is a guest blog post courtesy of Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, a firm comprised of three Portland Oregon injury lawyers.

Spencer Nelson was a competitive ski racer for the University of Colorado, Boulder, but his life was tragically cut short this month in a climbing accident near Aspen, CO. The 20-year-old had survived a nearly fatal motorcycle accident in May 2009 that caused a serious spinal injury. His recovery was marked by dedication and hard work in intensive physical therapy.

The athlete overcame his injury and was healthy enough to join the ski team at CU in the fall of 2009. The accident gave Nelson a new lease on life and an appreciation of the fragility of life. According to Jessica Fender of The Denver Post, friend and former coach Ian Dunlop had this to say about Nelson’s new attitude:

‘He definitely gained a lot of perspective from his near-death experience…He gained a lot of confidence that he could do whatever he put his mind to. He was on cloud nine, talking about how life is short and you have to live it to the fullest.’

Nelson, a Colorado native, began skiing at a young age and loved the outdoors. He was climbing with his father and a group of friends when a loose rock hit him and caused him to fall some 600 feet. To label this a tragedy is an understatement.

Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC is a Portland-based firm representing individuals and families in Oregon and Washington. The firm specializes in Oregon trucking accidents, wrongful death, and other serious and catastrophic injuries.