[Sheffieldshooter]

In the very early hours of this morning, two intoxicated men in a truck lost control of their vehicle and ran into Jim Watson's house. The impact drove Jim's heating and air unit into his house. The gas lines were severed and the truck caught on fire. Jim's first floor was soon engulfed in flames. He awoke upstairs, grabbed a flashlight, and climbed out a second story window onto his roof.

The lowlife drunks had fled. Jim held on to the icy roof calling for help but before help arrived he lost his grasp and slid off the roof onto the pavement below. He was critically injured in the fall. Rapid responders arrived and Jim was taken to our local hospital and then later transferred to Huntsville Hospital.

A couple that are friends of ours and members of the local shooting club had traveled to New Mexico to shoot in competition and Jim was keeping their dog. The dog perished in the fire.

The drivers that caused all of this have been apprehended.

Jim's pelvis is separated from his spinal column but his spine is not severed and he still has feeling in his lower extremities. He was to undergo surgery today but the three surgeons that are going to perform the procedures have decided to wait until Tuesday to make sure Jim has no other internal injuries.

Some young policemen that have grown up in the shooting club with us salvaged Jim's guns from the extinguished house (a total loss) and took them to a local member owned business. They are water damaged to various extents (some very badly) but not burned. About a dozen of us divided them today for care and safekeeping. We talked to Jim on a speaker phone as we worked on his guns in a chilly shop building today and he sounded confident and strong. He thanked us for our efforts and we all shouted words of encouragement.

Jim has no living family but he has very good friends and we are concerned but confident that he will be back shooting side by side with us in the future. He has many challenges to face.

This is a complicated event and I may not have all the facts exactly right. I ask my friends that read this to correct any errors or omissions.

Danny

[Andrew]

Thanks for the update Danny.

[Pdwight]

A very good summary Danny, this has really depressed me.

More to follow

Thanks to everyone who helped with this crisis. Especially to your lovely wife Karen who sat in a ice cold shop all day doing paper work and keeping my spirits up.....it was a very tall task.

Dwight

[Sheffieldshooter]

Pdwight, on 30 January 2010 - 09:48 PM, said:

A very good summary Danny, this has really depressed me.

More to follow

Thanks to everyone who helped with this crisis. Especially to your lovely wife Karen who sat in a ice cold shop all day doing paper work and keeping my spirits up.....it was a very tall task.

Dwight

Thanks Dwight. I wil pass along your kind comments to Karen. And yes, this has me down as well. I feel like I got punched in the gut.

[Chelsea]

I just want to say how awesome it was today to see all these guys (and girls) come together because of their love for our friend Jim. Whether it was at the hospital, repairing guns, or lifting him up in a prayer , You could really feel the love and bond that they share.

To quote a friend of mine and Jim's "Hug your family....talk to your friends.LIFE IS TOO SHORT!!"




Chelsea

[Sheffieldshooter]

I cut and pasted the thread starter from above to some of the boards that Jim frequents. The responses are heartfelt and moving.

http://www.thehighro...403#post5226403

http://www.thefiring...509#post3914509

http://forums.1911fo...271#post2514271

[TONY Q.C.I.S.]

All I know to say is WOW!!! I saw it on the news but did not hear who the victim was; our thoughts are definitely with Jim and his family (Team NASA). Thanks for the news Danny I hope it is nothing but good news from here on in, tell Jim we will miss him and to get well soon. "T"

This post has been edited by TONY Q.C.I.S.: 31 January 2010 - 01:14 PM

[Slowshot]

If there is a way for us who live out of your state, to offer our best wishes to Jim for a speedy recovery, let us know. How about giving us his Hospital room number, if you feel he would like that. Is that Huntsville Alabama?

Also let's hope the idiots who are responsible for Jim's injuries don't get off lightly. It pisses me off when some fool argues that he is not responsible for his actions because he was drunk or screwed up on some other drug. When you pick up a drink or get stoned and then get in your car, it is the same as if you had picked up a gun and you are responsible for the results.

[Barry]

I saw the headline in one of the papers but had no idea it was our own Jim W. Our prayers go out to him. We hope he will have a complete and speedy recovery. Barry

[Sheffieldshooter]

Live video:

http://www.timesdaily.com/

[Sheffieldshooter]

Slowshot, on 31 January 2010 - 01:59 AM, said:

If there is a way for us who live out of your state, to offer our best wishes to Jim for a speedy recovery, let us know. How about giving us his Hospital room number, if you feel he would like that. Is that Huntsville Alabama?

Yes, that's Huntsville, Alabama but .....................

Jim is in intensive care. We can forward cards and letters to him via the club PO Box at:

Jim Watson
c/o North Alabama Shooting Association, Inc.
P. O. Box 3565
Florence, AL 35630

Thanks for all the kind words and prayers ladies and gentlemen.

[Pearyw]

I saw the event on last night's news, but didn't know it was Jim till I read this morning's paper. I sure was shocked to read about it. Please keep us informed about how he is doing.

[Pdwight]

Hi Folks, I just wanted to post a bit more info about Jim. IF all goes as planned on Tuesday in the surgery the Doctors predict a total recovery with a lot of Rehab. Most of us who dove in and helped have not had much rest this weekend with trying to stabilize the collection after the fire. I wanted to post this pic of this gun which looked worse than any of the others (IMHO) some good friends helped me with this tonight. As you can tell it is a Browning O/U and I wont say much about it except it looked really bad. In the picture is Hal , Myself, and Richard E(on here) we really made this gun an act of passion trying to bring the old lady back to life as much as possible. I think we did pretty good. Now we are not fishing for pats on the backs or "attaboy's" there are many other people doing the same thing we are doing and working just as hard. I just wanted to share this with you because it shows hope from a seemingly lost situation....it happened with the help of good friends coming together to desperately right a situation that should never have happen. It was also one of Jim's favorite guns and perhaps he can view this on the web when he feels better) and it will cheer him up some.

Jim we love you and are looking out for you, you may have not had any blood relatives here to take care of things. But you had a much larger family than you knew who came together to look out for you and do what needed to be done.

Dwight

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[Sheffieldshooter]

That is unbelievable. Thanks you guys.

[Pearyw]

Great job!

[Barry]

Pdwight, on 01 February 2010 - 12:23 AM, said:

Hi Folks, I just wanted to post a bit more info about Jim. IF all goes as planned on Tuesday in the surgery the Doctors predict a total recovery with a lot of Rehab. Most of us who dove in and helped have not had much rest this weekend with trying to stabilize the collection after the fire. I wanted to post this pic of this gun which looked worse than any of the others (IMHO) some good friends helped me with this tonight. As you can tell it is a Browning O/U and I wont say much about it except it looked really bad. In the picture is Hal , Myself, and Richard E(on here) we really made this gun an act of passion trying to bring the old lady back to life as much as possible. I think we did pretty good. Now we are not fishing for pats on the backs or "attaboy's" there are many other people doing the same thing we are doing and working just as hard. I just wanted to share this with you because it shows hope from a seemingly lost situation....it happened with the help of good friends coming together to desperately right a situation that should never have happen. It was also one of Jim's favorite guns and perhaps he can view this on the web when he feels better) and it will cheer him up some.

Jim we love you and are looking out for you, you may have not had any blood relatives here to take care of things. But you had a much larger family than you knew who came together to look out for you and do what needed to be done.

Dwight

Good thing you took pictures. It would be hard to believe without them. Fantastic job!! Barry

[Reed]

Dwight,

Good to hear that Jim will make a full recovery and ditto on the great job.

If and when help is needed to remove the contents to storage or cleanup Jim's house please let us know.
I will be glad to give up a Saturday to help.

Reed

[Solvability]

I am an IDPA friend of Jim's and work on computers for a living - I suspect his computer was damaged, but if the hard drive was recovered I would be glad to give a try at recovering the data and getting him setup on one of our spares. A small thing, but one I can do. I am in Huntsville and will stop by to see him soon.

Jim Clark

[Solvability]

I stopped by tonight for a quick visit. I won't say he was comfortable or particularly voluble so it was pretty much like any other visit with Jim. I was glad to see he had not changed. Surgery tomorrow - a few more days in the Hospital then a rehab facility - where TBD.

It was good to see Jim - he had two nice lady visitors so I made my greetings and headed back out.

He will miss the Larry's match for sure.

[Sheffieldshooter]

Updates and answers:

Jim was scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning at 9 AM but he now has a blood clot in his leg and they are attempting to catch it with a filter. The surgery is on "wait and see" status until the blood clot is captured.

Now, many have asked where they can send cards, letters, gifts, and monetary support. After discussing this matter with Randy Nash and Dwight Pilkilton (two of Jim's best friends), the North Alabama Shooting Association, Inc. will act as an agent in delivering said items to Mr. Watson.

Please mail them to:

Jim Watson
n/c North Alabama Shooting Association
P. O. Box 3565
Florence, AL 35630

If you want to send a monetary gift, please make a check, money order, or official check payable directly to Jim Watson and we will see that it is hand delivered to his acting power of attorney for deposit to Jim's account. I will record such gifts and who they were from and periodically review it with Jim as he is able in the coming days.

I am cutting and pasting this message and posting it on the sites that I am aware of Jim frequenting. Feel free to do the same on others that I am not aware of. For example, a gent mentioned a S&W board tonight that was new to me.

Thanks from Jim to all who are expressing messages of strength and prayer,

Danny Creasy
North Alabama Shooting Association, Inc.