MAN FALLS 11 STORIES INTO SHALLOW POOL, LIVES

In Panama City Florida last week, a 38-year-old man survived an 11-story fall from a balcony. Mark Hefley and a friend had just finished laying hardwood flooring in Unit 1104 of Ocean Reef Condos. He was leaning over the balcony rail to stretch his back when he lost his footing. Hefley’s wife and another friend were on the living room couch when they saw Hefley slip and his legs upend as he flipped over the rail. She ran outside where she caught a glimpse of Hefley hitting one lower balcony before falling the rest of the way and landing…in a shallow pool. Hefley appeared to land on his back, she told police. A security guard on the ground in front of the building heard Hefley scream as he fell behind the building. When the guard got there, Hefley had pulled himself out of the water and was lying on the ground beside the pool. He then stood up and walked to a pool chair to wait for EMTs, police reported. Hefley was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officers interviewed the rest of the group and determined alcohol did not play a role in the incident. They said there was 4 feet of water in the pool.
* So how did his back feel?
* On the way to the hospital, he asked the guys to pull over so he could buy a lottery ticket.
* If this had happened in Australia, the guy would have crawled into the pool chair and asked for a margarita.
* You know how that astronaut got taller in space? I bet this guy shortened up a little.
* Too bad he landed on his back. He could have set the world’s belly flop record.
* He’s 38? That’s too old to call this a Spring Break story.
* You know the most surprising thing about this whole experience? He’s going to get a chance to turn 39.