Kalispell logger severely injured at Idaho jobsite

A 31-year-old logger from the Kalispell area is recovering from severe injuries at a Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, hospital after being struck by a falling tree at a job site Feb. 8 near Prichard, Idaho.

TJ Cooper sustained multiple injuries, including six broken ribs, a broken pelvis, ruptured kidney, a broken femur and spinal cord damage, according to Cooper’s cousin, Jessica Crofts of Kalispell.

Cooper underwent an eight-hour surgery on his spinal cord on Tuesday at Kootenai Hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Crofts said.

“There was more damage to the spinal cord than they thought,” she said. “His vitals were great through the surgery, and he came out doing OK, but there were some crushed vertebrae they couldn’t fix.”

Cooper and his wife Amber have a 1-year-old son, Sawyer. A GoFundMe page has been set up online to raise money to help defray the family’s expenses.

Amber has taken a leave from her job with Alliance Title in Bigfork to be with her husband, Crofts said. Crofts, who also is employed with Alliance Title, said Amber’s co-workers have rallied to donate their leave time to enable her to be with her husband while he recovers.

“It sounds like they’ll be there a couple of months,” she added.

Cooper has worked in the logging industry for several years, doing work in California before moving to the Flathead Valley in 2015. Most recently he was employed by a Missoula logging company.

To donate, go to gf.me/u/gr3svh

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.