Christopher EllisCEO Dynamic Physio Therapy

I Fell Four Floors Down an Elevator Shaft, and It Made Me a PT

14 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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In this first‑person narrative, carpenter Christopher Ellis recounts a life‑changing accident on a job site where he fell four floors down an elevator shaft, breaking his pelvis, back, and hand. The wood he broke through during the fall mitigated the impact, but he still endured severe injuries, a prolonged eight‑month course of intensive physical therapy, dependence on painkillers, and a period of deep depression. The rehabilitation process not only restored his physical function but also revived his mental health, leading him to discover a passion for physical therapy. This experience motivated him to pursue a career as a physical therapist, viewing PT as the catalyst that gave his life back.

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I was working on a job site as a carpenter. I managed to fall down an elevator shaft and fell 4 floors, broke through some wood on the way down, which basically saved my life. And when I landed, I broke my pelvis, my back, and my hand and went through intense physical therapy for about 8 months. And, you know, I went into PT like overweight. I was on painkillers. I was depressed. Only time in my life I've been depressed. And it was PT that brought me back and just gave me my life back. And it was so incredible. I was like, that's what I want to do. So that's what got me into PT.