Calgary man lands in B.C. hospital after falling from two-storey balcony at Airbnb
Lawrence Pickrem thought he’d be celebrating a weekend away with friends in Vernon, B.C., but two hours into the trip on Friday it changed dramatically.
Pickrem, originally from Nova Scotia, and his friend were enjoying a beer on the balcony of their Airbnb rental.
They leaned on the railing when it gave way and they fell two storeys.
Pickrem broke his friend's fall, but he ruptured his spleen and broke his pelvis.
“It was quite a drop to the ground and it was on cement,” Pickrem said from his hospital room in Vernon. “All I remember was once the wind was knocked out of me, I remember looking over and seeing my buddy Barrett’s head bleeding.”
Pickrem said he wants to warn others to always check their surroundings when attending a rental property.
“We had no inclination to know that the railings wouldn’t have been secure and as far as I’m concerned, not up to code,” he said. “Be more cautious, kind of look around and don’t just trust that everything is how its supposed to be, because often times, as I learned the hard way, it’s not.”
Pickrem moved to Calgary several months ago from Halifax, seeking work.
His sister Brittany, who lives in Halifax, has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help her brother financially.
It’s raised more than $3,200 of its $5,000 goal.
Doctors have told Pickrem it could be six months before he begins walking again.
“I asked him on a scale of one to 10, where’s your comfort level, and he said he’s about a four with the pain,” Brittany said. “But I can tell now its more emotional than anything else. He’s so far away from his family.”
Airbnb said in a statement that “the safety of our community is of the utmost importance to us.”
“We are looking into this incident and have reached out to the guest and host to offer additional support,” an Airbnb spokesperson said.
The company says Pickrem and his friends received a refund for their visit.
Pickrem says he would like to return to Halifax but believes he’ll be in Calgary for several months to recover.
His injuries are so severe, doctors say he will have to be specially transported by air back to Calgary from Vernon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Engaged couple shot dead fleeing landlord after house dispute near Hamilton, Ont., police say
A 'truly innocent' engaged couple was shot dead while attempting to flee their attacker outside their home after a landlord-tenant dispute escalated on Saturday night, according to police.
Jan. 6 rioters are raking in thousands in donations. Now the U.S. is coming after their haul
Less than two months after he pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol, Texas resident Daniel Goodwyn appeared on Tucker Carlson's then-Fox News show and promoted a website where supporters could donate money to Goodwyn and other rioters whom the site called 'political prisoners.'
Venice authorities investigate after canal turns fluorescent green
Venetian authorities are investigating after a patch of fluorescent green water appeared in the famed Grand Canal on Sunday morning.
Ballot battlegrounds: Edmonton-area ridings to watch this Alberta election
With advance voting open in Alberta and election day looming on May 29, CTV News Edmonton has compiled a list of ridings to watch in the capital region.
Erdogan holds lead in unofficial count in Turkiye's presidential runoff
Preliminary, unofficial results from Turkish news agencies showed incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead with over 95 per cent of ballot boxes counted in a presidential runoff that will decide whether the country's longtime leader stretches his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade.
Jewish groups and city officials protest against Roger Waters concert in Frankfurt
Several Jewish groups, politicians and an alliance of civil society groups gathered for a memorial ceremony and a protest rally against a concert by Roger Waters in Frankfurt on Sunday evening.
Russia launched 'largest drone attack' on Ukrainian capital before Kyiv Day; 1 killed
Ukraine's capital was subjected to the largest drone attack since the start of Russia's war, local officials said, as Kyiv prepared to mark the anniversary of its founding on Sunday. At least one person was killed.
Paul Walker honoured by brother Cody who names newborn son after the ‘Fast & Furious’ star
As seen in People, Cody Walker and his wife Felicia have named their newborn son Paul, in tribute to the fallen 'Fast & Furious' star. Paul Barrett ('Bear') Walker was born late last month.
Attorney for 11-year-old Mississippi boy shot by police says there's 'no way' he could have been mistaken for an adult
An attorney for an 11-year-old Mississippi boy who was shot by a police officer after he called 911 for help said Thursday there was 'no way' the boy could have been mistaken for an adult.
Edmonton
-
Wildfire danger remains high in northern Alberta, but firefighters making progress
The number of wildfires burning in Alberta's protected forest areas has continued to drop.
-
'It was just adorable': Grade 1 students surprise departing firefighters with special goodbye gifts
An Edmonton Grade 1 class was at the Edmonton International Airport Saturday to give a crew of wildland firefighters handmade thank-you cards and wish them well on their way back to New Brunswick.
-
'More connected': Researchers looking at growing food under solar panels
Lawns, backyards and roofs could be used to produce both solar power and fresh vegetables, University of Alberta researchers say.
Vancouver
-
‘A crime of passion’: Bizarre B.C. bakery break-in caught on camera
The owner of a cake shop in Vancouver’s Dunbar neighbourhood braced for the worst when she found her store had been broken into Friday morning. But what she found captured by a security camera was a break-in beyond her wildest imagination.
-
Brazen shooting prompts Mounties to host public outreach event
Ten days after shots rang out at a busy Coquitlam shopping complex in broad daylight, Coquitlam RCMP held a public outreach event to address public concerns.
-
Several multiple sclerosis drugs covered by Pharmacare in every province except B.C.
Deborah Stefanek's doctor recommended she take a new medication called Kisempta to treat her relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. She was shocked to learn every province in Canada covers Kisempta under their Pharmacare plans except B.C.
Atlantic
-
Wildfire near Barrington Lake, N.S., burning out of control
A sizeable wildfire is burning out of control in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia.
-
Man airlifted to Halifax hospital after Cape Breton collision: police
A man was airlifted to a Halifax hospital Saturday after a motor vehicle collision in the River Ryan area of Cape Breton, N.S.
-
Fishing area closed after North Atlantic right whale sighting set to reopen this week
A lucrative lobster fishing area in the Maritimes is set to reopen this week after a sighting of North Atlantic right whales shuttered the fishery just weeks into the spring season.
Vancouver Island
-
BC Transit offering free rides to cyclists in Victoria next week
BC Transit is offering cyclists free rides for Go By Bike Week in Victoria.
-
Vancouver Island facing highest monthly cost for nutritious food in B.C.
Everyone is experiencing sticker shock at the grocery store these days, and a new report is putting a dollar figure on how much it’s costing families, per month, to eat healthy.
-
Road closures coming for Oak Bay half marathon
Commuters should expect road closures in the Oak Bay area on Sunday morning for the Oak Bay Half Marathon.
Toronto
-
Engaged couple shot dead fleeing landlord after house dispute near Hamilton, Ont., police say
A 'truly innocent' engaged couple was shot dead while attempting to flee their attacker outside their home after a landlord-tenant dispute escalated on Saturday night, according to police.
-
Victim rushed to hospital following early morning stabbing in downtown Toronto
One person was rushed to hospital following an early morning stabbing in downtown Toronto.
-
Animal advocates call for alternatives to coyotes, foxes in Ontario dog training areas
Advocates are hoping the Ontario government will consider alternatives to the use of wild animals in off-leash dog areas for the purpose of tracking as officials push forward with a proposal to expand training areas in the province.
Montreal
-
Heightened forest fire risk as Quebec approaches week of hot weather
With hot weather forecasted across Quebec this week, the province's forest fire agency is advising the public not to light outdoor fires until at least Thursday.
-
Two dead, three injured after head-on collision in Quebec's Eastern Townships
Two women are dead and three people, including children, are injured after a head-on vehicle crash in Quebec's Eastern Townships on Saturday night. The collision occurred at about 11:45 p.m. near Farnham, about 60 kilometres southeast of Montreal.
-
WATCH: Baby falcons hatching atop Montreal tower
It's a joyous day for Eve, resident falcon at the Université de Montreal: her babies are hatching. The event is being live-streamed on Sunday from a nest box atop the 23rd floor of a tower on campus.
Ottawa
-
Canadian woman among top finishers at Ottawa Marathon
A Canadian woman is among the top finishers at the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon Sunday. Ethiopia's Yihunilign Adane and Waganesh Mekasha were first overall among men and women respectively.
-
Two seriously injured in crash in Pontiac, Que.
Two people have been hospitalized with serious injuries after a single-vehicle crash in the Pontiac region of Quebec early Sunday morning.
-
Mayoral run: Ottawa mayor exceeds marathon fundraiser goal for housing project
Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe has raised more than $26,000 toward repairs to a local supportive housing facility that was severely damaged by a February flood. Sutcliffe ran the Tartan Ottawa International Marathon, finishing with a time of 3:54:06.
Kitchener
-
Three-vehicle crash in Wellington County leaves one dead
One person has died following a three vehicle crash on Highway 6 in Wellington County.
-
Engaged couple shot dead fleeing landlord after house dispute near Hamilton, Ont., police say
A 'truly innocent' engaged couple was shot dead while attempting to flee their attacker outside their home after a landlord-tenant dispute escalated on Saturday night, according to police.
-
Eric Idle gets on stage for Monty Python's Spamalot at Stratford Festival
The Stratford Festival is no stranger to star power, but those experiencing Monty Python's Spamalot got a lot more than they paid for.
Saskatoon
-
Firefighters called to Saskatoon home for second time in two months
Saskatoon Fire Department fought a blaze in a vacant property in the city’s west side on Sunday morning.
-
Saskatoon family aims to set personal cycling records in cancer fundraiser
Erin McFarland has been an avid cyclist for over a decade. And for the last 8 years, she’s been participating in the Great Cycle Challenge Canada.
-
Saskatoon police investigating suspicious death in Confederation Place
Saskatoon police are investigating a suspicious death that occurred in the Confederation neighbourhood on Saturday night.
Northern Ontario
-
Timmins hosts annual Khalsa Day Parade, welcomes future Sikh police officer
A Sikh police cadet, originally from Brampton, used his one paid day of leave to attend the second annual Khalsa Day Parade in Timmins. He says the establishment of a Sikh Gurdwara in the city that was a major factor in his decision to accept a job with the Timmins Police Service.
-
Officials report seven active forest fires in the northeast region
There are six new forest fires confirmed in the northeast region, Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fires and Emergency Services reported Saturday evening, bringing the active number of fires in the region to seven.
-
Ontario community battles to keep emergency department from closing for good
A community in Ontario’s cottage country is facing the permanent closure of its local hospital's Emergency Room.
Winnipeg
-
RCMP investigating possible drowning at Whiteshell Provincial Park
A Winnipeg boy may have drowned at Whiteshell Provincial Park, according to RCMP.
-
RCMP looking for missing Chemawawin 17-year-old
RCMP in Chemawawin First Nation are searching for a missing teenager from the area.
-
Pigrome impresses as Blue Bombers edge Elks 25-23 in CFL pre-season clash
EDMONTON -- Tyrrell Pigrome's first taste of CFL action was pretty sweet.
Regina
-
PCL Construction Management to conduct its own, additional investigation into fatal incident at YQR
PCL Construction Management Inc., the firm overseeing the runway revitalization at Regina’s airport, says it is conducting its own investigation into the death of a worker on Friday.
-
'It was pretty special': Former Regina Rams LB shines in Lions loss to Riders
Ryder Varga looked right at home on Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium. He should. The 24-year old spent his entire U Sports career with the Regina Rams playing on that same turf.
-
Thunderstorm brings heavy rain, hail, tornado warning to southern Sask.
Environment Canada issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for southern Saskatchewan, threatening hail, excessive rain and a potential tornado.