(WBIR - KNOXVILLE) - The 18-year-old Georgia man critically injured July 22 while using the brand-new Ijams Canopy Adventure course in South Knoxville has died.
The Knoxville Police Department was notified Wednesday afternoon that Gregory Horan had died, according to KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
Course operator Navitat Canopy Adventures issued a statement Thursday afternoon.
"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Navitat and Ijams families have been, and will continue to be, with the family and friends of Gregory Horan. We are devastated by this loss. Navitat continues to work in full cooperation with the state of Tennessee, ACCT-certified inspectors, and other industry experts in analyzing the events that have transpired and charting a course of action going forward."
Horan had been at University of Tennessee Medical Center since he was discovered unconscious and not breathing with a loop form a harness around his neck at the course, which opened at Ijams Nature Center on July 17.
Horan's sister spotted him hanging from a ropes course shortly before noon July 22 as they traversed it together, according to a police incident report. She was ahead of him on the course.
She looked away for a moment and then when she turned her attention again to him she saw that Horan was hanging off the platform.
People at the scene worked to resuscitate him and he was taken to the hospital.
Ijams and Navitat immediately closed the course. They say a thorough investigation will be conducted.
Navitat CEO and managing partner Ken Stamps said they will "look at everything. We will review exactly from the moment this guest entered the property, what were the procedures he followed and he was guided through? We will look at the harness itself. We will look at the element that he was on, and understand if there was a defect in the element."
The element Horan was on is considered a moderate level part of the course. Stamps said all guests are trained prior to using the course.
