CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — 27-year-old Tyler Powell, the son of the owner of Deer Tracks Junction, has passed away from his injuries after almost three weeks of fighting for his life in the hospital.
On April 19, Kent County deputies responded to Deer Tracks Junction Adventure Park just after 3:30 p.m. The initial report said Tyler was on a ladder in the giraffe enclosure when the giraffe hit the ladder, causing him to fall.
He was rushed to an area hospital with severe injuries. The family shared an update on Thursday that Tyler had passed away from his injuries.
Kelly Powell, the owner of Deer Tracks Junction and Tyler's father, told 13 ON YOUR SIDE shortly after the incident that there were no animals in the enclosure at the time of the fall.
A Facebook post made on the Deer Tracks Junction page last week provided some additional clarification, saying that they were uncertain what happened when Tyler was injured.
"What we do know is that Kelly and Tyler were working in the giraffe enclosure. The giraffe had been safely shifted to an empty enclosure prior to them entering. Tyler used a 6ft ladder to assist him in securing a 2x4," the post read. "Kelly had turned away for a second and heard a loud noise. He turned around to see Tyler falling and he tried to catch him. As any parent knows, the fact that he failed to catch him and Tyler fell to the cement is a haunting memory."
The post went on to say that there is always the possibility that large animals can cause harm "without even trying," and that "every precaution" was taken prior to Kelly and Tyler entering the enclosure.
"We are being very honest with the fact that we just don’t know what happened. Statements that were made at the time of the accident were said from shock, fear, and confusion that anyone would feel during a time like that," it read. "Somehow, Tyler fell off the ladder, and that is all that we know."
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