Former Laurel Co. basketball coach injured in boating incident

(WYMT)
Published: Jun. 20, 2024 at 11:53 AM EDT

MERCER CO., Ky. (WYMT) - A Kentucky High School Basketball coach said he is lucky to be alive and after a major boating incident.

Chris Souder was on vacation in Missouri when police there said he was injured in an incident. Police said a pontoon was pulling an innertube he was on when it crashed into a dock.

Mercer County School leaders said Souder and his wife were both on the tube.

Souder was recently named the girls basketball coach at Mercer County High School.

Souder had been the girls basketball coach at South Laurel High School but returned to Mercer County, where he had previously won two state titles.

“He texted back and said we are lucky to be alive,”said Jason Booher, with Mercer Co. Schools. “The good Lord was not ready to bring us home. To read something like, I knew he was counting his blessings and he made it through it, as far as surviving it.”

School leaders said Souder suffered hip and other injuries but are hopeful that he will make a full recovery.