A former Red Deer Rebel hockey player who was seriously burned while hanging out at a backyard firepit is out of intensive care.
The Family of Ryan Vandervlis say the Lethbridge Hurricanes player is fully alert and has been transferred to a Calgary hospital’s burn unit.
He is able to whisper and communicate through texts.
The 20-year-old centre with the elite major junior team suffered burns to half his body last month.
His parents Rene and Barb Vandervlis said their son had burns to approximately 50 per cent of his body, varying from superficial to full thickness (third degree).
“Ryan was heavily sedated (medically induced coma) for the first week after the accident, but is now fully alert although he fatigues easily,” the parents said in a joint statement.
He was moved to the burn unit after spending almost four weeks in the ICU at the Foothills in Calgary. He has undergone five surgeries and faces several more.
“We want to thank everyone for their continued support, and can’t begin to tell you how much the heartfelt messages and well wishes have meant to us over the last month,” they said.
Vandervlis was with a group of young men who had gathered around a firepit as part of a pre-wedding celebration when a substance was placed in the fire.
Two others were also burned but have since been released from hospital.