NEW YORK (WSVN) — The father of a University of Miami student injured in an explosion on the Fourth of July in Central Park spoke out, Tuesday, about his son’s recovery.
The father of 19-year-old Connor Golden was joined by his son’s doctors at a press conference in NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Connor accidentally stepped on an explosive device in Central Park while visiting the city over the weekend of July 4. He had his leg amputated, and has had three additional surgeries since, with more to come.
Kevin Golden said that if anyone could fight through this sort of adversity, it’s his son. “If this has to happen to anybody, Connor is so resilient, such a powerful person individually, and I think that he’s going to do just fine.”
Doctors said they believe Connor can make a full recovery going forward. “Well, ideally, a lot of it depends on how he does getting up, his pain management, that sort of thing,” Dr. Tony McLaurin said. “I would like to see him in a prosthesis within the next two months.”
Kevin urged anyone with information about the explosive device to come forward. “I would urge people who have information related to this, who observed any suspicious activity in the park at the time, who are aware of any of the circumstances relating to this event, to come forward and cooperate and provide that information to police.”
Police said the incident may have been an accident involving a hobbyist experimenting with material from a hardware store. Kevin said legal action may still be a possibility.
“As the facts start to come out about what the circumstances were behind this, we certainly will consider holding whoever’s responsible, responsible,” he said. “And if legal action is necessary, then we wouldn’t rule that out.”
Connor, a music student, said he’s grateful the explosion didn’t affect his hands.
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