Iowa Marine who defied odds after breaking neck dies, family says

KCCI 8 NEWS AT 6:00. STEVE: WHY DIDN’T I DIE? THAT’S THE QUESTION A CENTRAL DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE ASKS HIMSELF EVERY DAY SINCE TRAGEDY ENTERED HIS LIFE. STACEY: KCCI SPORTS DIRECTOR SCOTT REISTER INTRODUCES US TO A YOUNG MARINE WHO IS DEFYING THE ODDS AND THE CARING COMMUNITY THAT JUST WELCOMED HIM HOME. SCOTT: HE CAN STILL HEAR THE CHEERS. >> YOU JUST GET THAT SHE’LL, LIKE HERE WE G I BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD FOR THE 100 METER --. SCOTT: BUT THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENT IN HIS LIVE -- >> I WAS LIKE WHERE AM I, WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHY CAN’T I MOVE ANYTHING? SCOTT: NOVEMBER 2018, THIS DECORATED MARINE WAS IN OKINAWA. ON HIS 20TH AND FINAL JOB -- >> IT WAS A NIGHT JUMP AND WITH FULL COMBAT LOAD. SCOTT: HIS GEAR MALFUNCTIONED. >> SPINE. SCOTT: BACK IN I WILL, HIS PARENTS GOT THE CALL. >> THAT HE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT BEFORE WE GET THERE AND I MIGHT NOT GET TO SAY GOODBYE. IT WAS AWFUL. SCOTT: HE SURVIVED. >> IT WAS A MIRACLE. SCOTT: ONLY TO HEAR THIS. >> YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO BREATHE AGAIN, YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO WALK, YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO EAT. I WAS LIKE, YOU DON’T KNOW ME. YOU DON’T KNOW THE FIGHTING SPIRIT THAT I HAVE, THE PERSEVERANCE THAT I HAVE. YOU ARE WRONG. IN THEN I TOLD HIM TO GET OUT. SCOTT: THIS MARINE HAS A NEW MISSION. >> I KNOW HE’S GOING TO DO IT. I DO THINK HE GOT A SECOND CHANCE FOR A REASON. SCOTT: AUSTIN CAN NOW WALK, TALK, AND BREATHE ON HIS OWN. >> TO BE ABLE TO HUG MY WIFE. SCOTT: AS AUSTIN RELENTLESSLY PURSUES HIS GOALS OF REGAINING MOVEMENT, HE’S NOW GETTING A DOSE OF THE BEST MEDICINE AVAILABLE. AFTER YEAR IN HOSPITALS, AUSTIN RECENTLY MOVED BACK HOME. AND FRIDAY NIGHT, HE RETURNED A HERO. SOME OVATIONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL. >> SERGEANT AUSTIN GIBSON. >> IT’S JUST AMAZING HOW THEY COME TOGETHER TO SHOW SUPPORT AND LOVE. >> IN A SMALL COMMUNITY, IT’S ALL LOVE AND SUPPORT. SCOTT: AUSTIN NOW HAS A NEW MEMORY UNDER THE LIGHTS AND A TEAM THAT WILL NEVER STOP. >> HE’S GOING TO GET HIS ARMS BACK. I JUST KNOW IT IN MY HEART AND SOUL. SCOTT: AUSTIN’S WIFE MICHAELLA TOLD ME HE JUST REGAINED SENSATION IN HIS LEFT CALF. NOT ONLY IS HE REHABBING AUSTIN , PLANS ON PURSUING HIS COACHING

An Iowa Marine who broke his neck in a parachute training accident has died, family members say.U.S. Marine Austin Gibson, a graduate of Central Decatur High School in Leon, died Monday at the age of 26.Gibson broke his neck on Nov. 20, 2018, after his gear malfunctioned during a parachute training jump.Through rehab, Gibson defied the odds and learned how to breathe, talk and eat on his own. He also regained movement in his arms.Gibson’s wife, Michaela, told KCCI that her husband, “fought the biggest fight he could."His funeral will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Decatur High School football field. Gibson’s incredible story can be seen here.

An Iowa Marine who broke his neck in a parachute training accident has died, family members say.

U.S. Marine Austin Gibson, a graduate of Central Decatur High School in Leon, died Monday at the age of 26.

Gibson broke his neck on Nov. 20, 2018, after his gear malfunctioned during a parachute training jump.

Through rehab, Gibson defied the odds and learned how to breathe, talk and eat on his own. He also regained movement in his arms.

Gibson’s wife, Michaela, told KCCI that her husband, “fought the biggest fight he could."

His funeral will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Decatur High School football field.

Gibson’s incredible story can be seen here.

Iowa Marine who defied odds after breaking neck dies, family says

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