Ashely Lowery update: UK football player expected to make ‘full recovery’
UK football player Ashely Lowery runs with the ball during the second half of the UK vs. Vanderbilt football game at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, November 3, 2012. Photo by Adam Chaffins
May 6, 2013
Staff report | @KyKernelSports
UK junior safety Ashely Lowery is expected to make a “full recovery” from the injuries he sustained in a car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning, a Lowery family statement released on Monday said.
“The only official comment from the hospital is that his condition has been upgraded from stable to satisfactory and his injuries are no longer life threatening. We expect a full recovery,” the statement said. “Again, thank you so much for all the prayers and support.”
Lowery was travelling alone in a 2006 Nissan Altima in his native Georgia when his car rolled multiple times. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was ejected 100 feet from the vehicle.
UK head coach Mark Stoops visited Lowery on Monday and released a statement via UK Athletics.
“I went to see Ashely today and was glad to see him and spend some time with him. We’re thankful for the progress he’s made and are hopeful he will continue that improvement,” Stoops said.
Stoops says that many of Lowery’s fellow players have been in touch with the safety since he was hospitalized on Saturday monring.
“He’s heard from a lot of teammates and is grateful for all the good wishes and prayers that so many people are offering on his behalf. We ask the Big Blue Nation to join Ashely’s football family in continuing to pray for a speedy recovery.”
Dough Stutsman, a family friend of the Lowery’s according to the Louisville Courier-Journal, told the Courier-Journal some details of Lowery’s condition in a story published on Sunday.
“Just a ton of scrapes all over his body. Some of them are pretty bad cuts, pretty deep, but they think right now he came out of it pretty clean,” Stutsman said.
The Courier-Journal report that breathing tubes and a neck brace were removed from Lowery less than 48 hours after the one-vehicle accident.
Stutsman spoke of his surprise that Lowery did not suffer more severe injuries.
“I think miracle is the right word. There’s really no other word to describe it,” he said to the Courier-Journal. “His brother said it just looks like he was in a bicycle accident. After seeing the car, if you told me he was alive — even if he was paralyzed — I would’ve said he’s lucky. Not only is he alive, but he’s going to be fine sooner than later. It’s unbelievable.”
Lowery has played at UK for two seasons and featured in the 2013 spring game at Commonwealth Stadium on April 13.
The 6-foot-1, 219-pound Celveland, Ga., native started eight games for the Cats in the 2012 season, making 43 tackles, including a career-high nine tackles in the 40-0 loss to Vanderbilt on November 3.
The Lowery family statement in full:
