Dad crushed in indoor cave 'read poem by daughter' as he lay on death bed
A dad was read a poem by his daughter as he lay dying in hospital after being crushed at an indoor cave at an adventure park, it is reported.
Carl O'Keeffe, 49, was stuck for four hours before being rescued at the Kong Adventure Centre in Keswick, Cumbria, on April 22.
He was taken to hospital in Carlisle with crush injuries but his family announced that he died at 3pm last Sunday after being taken off life support.
His sister Olivia Short told before his death that he was having palliative care and was "no longer distressed".
She also revealed how his daughter read a poem to him.
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He was taken to hospital suffering from crush injuries (Facebook)"The palliative care team are now taking care of his pain. He is no longer distressed. He has brief lucid moments but he is no longer able to talk. He listened to a poem read out by his daughter. And a story [his son] chose about the dark," she wrote on Facebook, reported the Daily Mail.
A tribute to Mr O'Keeffe, from Lancaster, from his family said: "Carl was a devoted parent and he will leave a huge hole in their lives.
"He was a strong advocate for the neurodiverse community. He taught people to learn what adjustments they needed in life and to not only accept them but to live them.
"He was often seen in dark glasses and a fedora hat as he was photophobic. He had a brilliant mind and was in the process of applying to start an astrophysics PHD.
"He was fascinated by solar storms and had been predicting the one that happened this week while he slept. He spent years having the NASA Hubble photos tattooed onto his arm."
His sister wrote on Facebook that he was read a poem by his daughter as he lay in hospital (Facebook)Following his death his sister, Olivia Short, wrote on Facebook: "At 3pm today I sat with Carl and said goodbye forever. He was my baby brother and over the last few years became my best friend.
"I loved him dearly and we were in contact daily doing word challenges and exchanging weird facts of nature. I also got to spend alternate weekends with him and his children.
"I have been with him since his accident in Keswick on Saturday, April 22. He was taken to Carlisle hospital intensive care with crush injuries.
"It became apparent that the injuries were severe and he would not be able to survive. He was then moved to a private room and I was able to stay with him so that he could die with some dignity."
She added: "I'm broken hearted. As are the rest of our family."
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A multi-agency emergency mission took place with members from the ambulance service, fire crews, cave rescue, and mountain rescue teams called out to the casualty within the simulated cave experience at Kong Adventure Centre in Keswick.
A statement released by Kong Adventure, said: "On Saturday, April 22, a member of the public became stuck in the cave system at Kong Adventure.
"Staff tried to help the man and followed all emergency procedures but it became apparent that outside assistance was needed.
"Fire crew, mountain rescue, cave rescue, paramedics and Kong staff then worked to extricate the casualty who was taken to Carlisle hospital for further treatment."
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