MATTAWA, Washington (STPNS) -- Chase Anderson still can?t remember what happened on Friday night, but he does know that he is thankful to be alive.

Chase was working about 20 feet above the sub floor on the EnCana drilling rig on Road L SW cleaning equipment when he fell about 11 p.m. Friday night. Chase works for DHS Drilling, headquartered in Casper, Wyoming.

According to his mother, Sue Anderson, he doesn?t know what happened, only that he regained consciousness and was lying on the floor below where he had been working. He was alone and no one saw what happened. He walked into another work area, found a worker who took him to the manager who called 911.



His father and fire department volunteer, Doug Anderson and family friend Doug Wells were the first on the scene.

Chase was transported to Kadlec, and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Sue, who flew with him, said he had four, six inch gashes down to the skull. His father followed.

After testing, it was found he had abdominal bleeding, which has now stopped, and a fracture C-5 vertebrate. He also broke the tips off C-6 and C-7.

He was released earlier this week with a large collar neck collar. No surgery was performed, but he goes back in two weeks. If everything is fine, she said, he?ll be in a brace for three to six months. If not, doctors will decide on surgery methods.

Chase and Sue both expressed their gratitude to everyone who has checked on them. Sue said she especially appreciated Chase?s fellow worker, Mike, the tool pusher for DHS.

?He stayed with us, stayed with Chase answering all his repetitive questions,? she said.

Chase said he has appreciated the community for their support. ?Special thanks to everyone for all their great support and help and for everyone stopping by to see if I am okay,? he said.

DHS Drilling Safety Coordinator James Kuntz flew out from Salt Lake City the night of the accident. In a phone interview, Kuntz said that his main concern has been to make sure Chase is okay.

?We try and take care of all our hands, we run this like it is a family because we spend so much time together,? he said.