'It's just one of those bad things you hear about,' says fiance of injured worker

Friends are trying to raise money for a family from Vancouver Island, after a 'freak accident' leftthe father and sole providerparalyzed from the neck down.

"It's just one of those bad things you hear about," said Bryan Oakley's fiance,Caitlin Rossand mother of their two-year-old son, Ryder.

The 37-year-old was working on a job sitelast weekwhen something went terribly wrong.

"They were unloading windows and apparently each window is about 250 lbs and the footing shifted, the truck shifted and about three to four windows just fell on him and he was just kind of pinned," said Ross.

WorkSafe BC is investigating but Ross said it was just an accident.

Oakley was rushed to Victoria General Hospital and then quickly flown by air ambulanceto Vancouver General Hospital wherehe underwent a five hour long emergency spinesurgery.

It's almost a guarantee he will never walk again.- Caitlin Ross

Oakley suffered C3 - C4spinal fractures and is unable to speak he uses facial expressions and his eyes to communicate.

Hewas scheduled to undergo surgery onhistracheostomySunday afternoon.

"We can be as hopeful as we can be, we're praying and hoping for a miracle to happen," said Ross.

"But atthis point because his injury is so significant and so high up C3 -C4 is significant in regards to breathing, hand movement, leg movement it's almost a guarantee he will never walk again," she said.

The couple's plans to get married in November have been put on hold to concentrate on Oakley's recovery.

Workers Compensation Board is providing the family with a hotel and covering other costs but friends have also started soliciting donations to help support the family, in particular to support their son's future.

Anyone interested in donating can visit any CIBC branch after Tuesday and ask to donate toRyder Oakley's account or e-mail for more information.There is also a GoFundMe campaign.