Paralyzed Florida deputy regains movement, walks into his retirement party
Images: Orange County Sheriffs Office
An injured Florida deputy is continuing to defy odds after a freak accident left him temporarily paralyzed more than two years ago.
But last week, having thought he may never walk again, Master Deputy Harold ‘Hal’ Davis strode into his retirement celebration with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Footage released by the sheriff’s office on X shows Davis walking unassisted into the party.
He retired on Aug. 30 after 32 years in law enforcement.
In March 2022, Davis was involved in an accident while doing yard work.
He was trimming a tree limb on a 10-foot ladder when it unexpectedly swung towards him instead of away. He was knocked to the ground and suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him unable to breathe.
His wife, who had been holding the ladder, yelled for help and administered CPR before he was rushed to the hospital.
He was initially paralyzed and was told to prepare for life in a wheelchair. But within months, he made a strong recovery and was moving by October, according to updates on the family’s GoFundMe page.
In fact, after a year of intense therapy, he regained enough movement to walk his daughter down the aisle in March 2023 with some assistance.
RELATED: Watch: Paralyzed deputy regains movement, walks daughter down the aisle
Images: Orange County Sheriff's Office
Davis retired after working with the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida for 17 years.
"Throughout his recovery, Hal was determined to walk again and finish his career with OCSO," the office wrote on X.
"And what a wonderful career it has been! Hal served Orange County as a Court Security Deputy and in training as a certified instructor. He was also part of the Court Security Response Team and was honored for training judges and state attorneys on courtroom safety.