Six years after the death of a Georgian luge athlete on the opening day of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the first responder who tried to save him is still wrapped in the chains of post-traumatic stress disorder. Terrance is known for flipping a nearly 200 kilogram tractor tire through the back roads of Canada while wearing nearly 25 kilograms of steel chain.
Mr. Kosikar said the tire and chain are symbols of the burden he has had to endure with a long, lonely battle with suicide attempts and addiction after the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili triggered his mental disorder.
The former paramedic wants the problem of PTSD pushed out of the shadows. He said first responders are trained to save lives, but are never taught about the dangers to their own mental health. "It needs to be talked about, post-traumatic stress, what to pick up on, the signs and symptoms to pick up in your co-workers and yourself after you deal with these sort of accidents." You can see his website here.