SAN FRANCISCO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Rob Heitz was met with cheers as he swam from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco shore on Friday.
Swimming nearly a mile and a half across the bay is a feat for anyone, but it’s especially impressive for the 41-year-old from the West Loop.
Heitz was left a quadriplegic after a boating accident on Lake Michigan in 2003. He suffered a spinal cord injury after diving into water that was only 2 to 3 feet deep. After going through rehabilitation at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, he was able to walk and swim, again.
“I hope this brings a little joy and hope to anybody who’s feeling a little hopeless,” Heitz said after completing his 64-minute swim.
Heitz is founder of the Paralysis Recovery Foundation, which helps pay for robotic devices so people, like him, can enjoy all of the activities that make life great.
Since February, he has logged over 150 miles of swimming.
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