PANAMA CITY BEACH — A Spring Break visitor is in the hospital with serious injuries following an early morning fall from a second-story balcony, according to Bay County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Justin Harrold, 31, of Duvall, Wash., was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday after officers arrived to find him unconscious on the pavement of the Sunset Inn, 8109 Surf Drive. Officers reported that Harrold had been drinking heavily prior to tumbling from the second-floor balcony of the room in which he and his friends were staying.
One bystander said the men had placed Harrold on the balcony to sleep because of his heavy snoring. Kelly Underwood, of Woodstock, Kansas, said his friends and he could hear the snoring from their ground-level room until it stopped and Harrold began moving around.
“We hear him stand up, and he starts taking a leak off the balcony,” Underwood said. “He goes on for about 5 minutes, so we go back to our business. Then, all of the sudden, we hear this smack … like a meat pack hit the ground.”
Harrold was face down on the concrete patio next door and blood began to pool around his head as Underwood ran for assistance.
Officers found Harrold still unconscious and face down. While the officer assessed his injuries, Harrold partially regained consciousness and began trying to reposition himself.
“I instructed him several times to remain still given likely head, neck and spinal injuries,” the officer reported. “It was apparent that Justin had consumed a significant amount of alcohol given his extreme level of inebriation. He was not responsive to my instructions to remain still as he attempted several times to unsuccessfully lift himself off the ground.”
EMS crews arrived shortly thereafter and rushed Harrold to a local hospital with serious injuries. Officers reported he possibly suffered broken bones and internal injuries.