A local man is still in the hospital after falling 50 feet into a shallow river.
CSX worker, A.J. Boguess, fell from a bridge Tuesday night into the Jackson River.
According to the United Transportation Union's website 24-year-old Boguess was rescued by another railroad employee.
According to the UTU his co-worker Dale Smith jumped into the river to help pull him out and Smith was treated for hypothermia.
Meanwhile, Boguess remains in critical condition at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Becky Badley hopes to fill a wooden box with donations for the Boguess family.
Badley is part of a local non-profit organizing a fundraiser this weekend.
She says Boguess and her son returned from a tour in Iraq in August, and then to hear of his tragic accident is just heart breaking.
“He wrote a blank check when he went to Iraq and then he comes home and you don't expect something this serious to happen after he's been over there and has put his life on the line,” explained Badley.
Badley says with Boguess having two young children to feed and recently being laid off, only to get hurt on his second day back, it took no time to start organizing help.
“He's the bread winner in the family,” she said.
As a soldier and a father, Badley is hoping the community will rally for Boguess at the Covington Food Lion Saturday, buying donated goods and giving money.
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