Roethlisberger was told he was close to dying

FITM · Jul 13, 2006

Roethlisberger was told he was close to dying
July 13, 2006

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday night that he was told he was "seconds, maybe a minute away from dying" immediately after his motorcycle accident last month.

Roethlisberger, in his first interview since the June 12 accident, told ESPN's "SportsCenter" that he doesn't remember much about the accident when he rammed his motorcycle into a car that was making a left turn in front of him on a Pittsburgh street. He did, however, remember what he was told by people at the scene.

"They told me that I was literally seconds, maybe a minute away from dying because I slit a vein or artery in my mouth or my throat and it was draining blood right into my stomach and luckily the paramedic noticed it and stopped it or else I would have had too much blood in my stomach," he said in Los Angeles where he was for the taping of the ESPY Awards.

"I remember very few things about the accident," Roethlisberger said. "I remember one car turning in front of me, I don't remember the car that hit me, but I remember that first car turning in front of me and the next thing I remember is being in the ambulance and asking, 'Is this really happening?'

"I said, 'Tell me this is just a bad dream,' and he said, 'No, everything is going to be OK,' and he asked me, 'Is there anyone you want me to call?' ... I just gave him two numbers and I don't remember anything until I woke up from surgery."

Roethlisberger underwent seven hours of surgery to repair a broken jaw and other facial bones. Tests showed no brain injuries, although he had a mild concussion. He also lost two teeth and chipped several others.

Roethlisberger was cited for not wearing a helmet when the accident happened.

"That day I wasn't, I forgot it. I literally forgot it," he said. "You know there are times that, people that have been making a big deal for the last couple years about me riding first of all, and then me riding without a helmet, but it's one of those things that I ride with a helmet also. I do a little bit of both. If you don't wear a seat belt every time you ride in the car should I label you as a person who doesn't wear a seat belt? And unfortunately I happened to not have it on that day because I forgot it in the basement."

Roethlisberger said he didn't know if he would ride a motorcycle again.

"I don't know. I am not even thinking about that right now," he said. "To me, right now, like I said when I first started thinking about things, I started thinking about my family. Now that I am doing better and I feel good, now all I am thinking about is football and that is what is on my mind right now. I am getting healthy and I am getting better every day so all I am thinking about is football. I am not thinking about anything else."

Roethlisberger is scheduled to play in a celebrity golf tournament this weekend in Lake Tahoe, Nev.

Including the postseason, the Steelers are 27-4 with Roethlisberger at quarterback. They advanced to the AFC championship game in both his seasons as a starter, winning the Super Bowl in January.

The Steelers won the ESPY for best team and Roethlisberger joined his teammates and coach Bill Cowher onstage to accept the award. It was his first public appearance since the accident.

Roethlisberger didn't appear backstage to talk to reporters.

"I have no concerns about Ben," Cowher said backstage. "He's going to have to get hit a couple times to see if he's all the way back. Hopefully, he can be a great inspiration to a lot of people about looking at life a little more cautiously."
Click to expand...

Idiot. Should've wore a helmet.

Young10 · Jul 13, 2006

Damn wont that be sad for the Steelers, its sad period.

BLITZKRIEG · Jul 13, 2006

"I have no concerns about Ben," Cowher said backstage. "He's going to have to get hit a couple times to see if he's all the way back. Hopefully, he can be a great inspiration to a lot of people about looking at life a little more cautiously."
Click to expand...

Cowher has no concerns???...Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. :lol:

Just wait until he gets slammed face first into the turf against the Phinz on opening night. I doubt BR will last half a season considering his injuries, and if Ben is foolish enough to even want to start in the opener, he deserves to get hurt again as far as I'm concerned....

"He can be a great inspiration to a lot of people"... Like who???...all of the stupid people in the world??? What a moron.....

Drew · Jul 14, 2006

FITM said:

Idiot. Should've wore a helmet.
Click to expand...

It's not required by law, but you would think it's common sense.

Some people just don't get it.

1028 · Jul 14, 2006

DrewAlmighty said:

It's not required by law, but you would think it's common sense.

Some people just don't get it.
Click to expand...

Actually, I believe it is

jaywayne12 · Jul 14, 2006

Just goes to show the reports that day were absurd..didnt they say that he knocked out all of his teeth? Now I find out just two and a chip?

Thats like a decent day around my house.
(wow...for the first time since I have been posting here, I had to think about whether my wife ever comes on and checks out my posts...screw it..Im leaving it..and Im only kidding honey).

FITM · Jul 14, 2006

1028 said:

Actually, I believe it is
Click to expand...

Not in Pennsylvania.

But there are helmets for a reason. Wear them or face the consequences.

Roethlisberger was told he was close to dying

FITM 2006 TGG.com Best Photoshop Artist Award Winner

Young10 Banned

BLITZKRIEG New Member

Drew Active Member

1028 Active Member

jaywayne12 Well-Known Member

FITM 2006 TGG.com Best Photoshop Artist Award Winner

Share This Page

Useful Searches

Roethlisberger was told he was close to dying

FITM 2006 TGG.com Best Photoshop Artist Award Winner

Young10 Banned

BLITZKRIEG New Member

Drew Active Member

1028 Active Member

jaywayne12 Well-Known Member

FITM 2006 TGG.com Best Photoshop Artist Award Winner

Share This Page