Arizona girl injured in Yellowstone bison assault says ‘sure’ to boyfriend’s hospital proposal

PHOENIX — An Arizona girl who suffered fractured vertebrae and collapsed lungs after being gored by a bison in Yellowstone Nationwide Park has mentioned “sure” to her boyfriend’s hospital proposal.

Chris Whitehill mentioned he deliberate to suggest to Amber Harris throughout their trip within the park this week, however after spending only one night time there, an encounter with a bison upended these plans.

The couple from the Phoenix space had walked to a lodge for some espresso Monday and determined to stroll by way of a discipline to Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, Harris posted on Facebook the following day.

They waited for some folks and about 20 elk to go away the world earlier than persevering with. In addition they observed two bison. They watched one “drop and roll within the grime, like a canine would,” she wrote. “He bought up on his ft and began strolling, then working towards us.”

The bison “struck her head-on and she or he was airborne,” Whitehill instructed KPNX-TV in Phoenix. “I feel she did one or two backflips within the air, and I used to be screaming and yelling making an attempt to distract him. She landed fairly arduous on her again.”

Harris, 47, was airlifted to Japanese Idaho Regional Medical Middle in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the place she recovering from seven fractured vertebrae, collapsed lungs and bruising.

Whitehill “bought down on one knee beside my hospital mattress,” Monday night time, Harris wrote in a Fb submit that included a photograph of the ring on her finger. “With none hesitation I mentioned sure!”

Whitehill began a GoFundMe marketing campaign for Harris’ medical payments. In an replace posted Thursday, he mentioned Harris doesn’t want surgical procedure however does must put on a again brace to maintain her backbone immobilized.

The bison assault was the primary in Yellowstone in simply over a 12 months, park officers mentioned.