STYX RIVER, Alabama — A Mobile man remains in a Pensacola hospital following an accident on a tubing trip down Styx River last weekend.

Steven Bodiford, 23, attended both Davidson and Theodore high schools in Mobile, said his mother Betty Bryan in a phone interview on Wednesday. A father of two, Bodiford worked as a welder and a ship-fitter prior to the accident.

“This is a young man who works hard and plays hard,” Bryan said. “They say God never gives you more than you can handle, but right now, I’m just looking for a way to take care of him.”

Bryan said, while she has heard conflicting reports about what happened, as far as she knows, Bodiford and friends were tubing along Styx River on Saturday celebrating a friend’s birthday, when they saw a zip line tied off to a bridge along the river.

“I’ve heard he either slipped from the zip line or fell from the bridge, I’m not sure,” Bryan said. What is certain is that Bodiford remains at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, still on a ventilator with a broken neck. “He has some movement in his arms, but that’s about it.”

Bodiford set to begin a new job when the accident occurred and did not have insurance, his mother said, so she is left trying to figure out how to pay for Bodiford’s mounting medical bills.

“I’ve been so touched by the response from people,” she said. “I had one lady in ICU tell me that she heard about our story and their whole family was praying for us. It’s really heartwarming to know that people care.”

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank to receive donations for Bodiford. Just ask for the Steven Bodiford Fund at any branch location. You can also contact Bryan at bettybryan1961@comcast.net.