Diving accident critically injures Redmond man

A 21-year-old Redmond man was critically injured Sunday afternoon when he dove into Lake Billy Chinook from a cement dock and was knocked unconscious, Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins said Monday.

Benjamin McCormick was flown by Life Flight helicopter to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend, where he was in critical condition Monday afternoon.

Adkins said McCormick was at Cove Palisades State Park with his girlfriend and father when he dove into the water and came back up to the surface 30 seconds later, face-down and unconscious.

McCormick’s father pulled him out of the lake, and he began to spit up water, Adkins said. But he reported having difficulty feeling sensation in his legs and arms.

Culver fire and Jefferson County EMS personnel were called to the scene for treatment and to prepare him for the flight to Bend.