Alabama State Sen. Garlan E. Gudger, seriously injured in a Fourth of July jet ski crash with his son, made his first public statement Sunday, thanking all who helped him that day on the lake and the medical staff who have treated him in the days that followed.

“If it had not been for the bystanders at the dock, the first responders who treated me at lakeside, the emergency helipad that had been installed by Trident Marina, Alabama’s Air Evac Flight Team, and an amazing group of UAB doctors, nurses, and administrators, I am certain that the outcome of this accident would have been much different,” Gudger said in a statement released by the Alabama State Senate.

The 49-year-old two-term senator from Cullman was driving a 2024 Sea-Doo GTI Thursday afternoon when the personal watercraft was struck in the rear by another Sea-Doo driven by his son, 21-year-old Garlan E. Gudger III, ALEA Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett said Friday.

The collision happened at 3:15 p.m. in the Little Crooked Creek area, also known as Rock Creek, on Smith Lake in Cullman County.

Burkett said the crash caused both drivers to be thrown into the water, but both were wearing personal flotation devices.

Burkett said bystanders in the area assisted the father and son out of the water and took them to a nearby dock.

Gudger Jr. was airlifted to UAB Hospital where he was in the Intensive Care Unit after undergoing surgery. Gudger III was evaluated by paramedics and released on the scene.

Gudger’s injuries included three fractured vertebrae, six fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and internal bleeding.

The state senator said Sunday he remains in UAB’s Intensive Care Unit but said he has been able to walk down the hallway.

“The physical recovery will be a difficult one for our family,’’ he said, “but it will be made easier by the intercessory prayers being sent by friends, family, constituents, colleagues, and even total strangers who understand that healing comes from God.”

“At this time, I must focus on getting better and will not be able to accept visitors, but please know how grateful my family and I are for everyone who has reached out to offer help and concern,” Gudger said.

His mother, Dot Denning Gudger, previously posted on Facebook that her son was, “doing remarkably well considering that he was run over by a JetSki.”

Gudger’s wife, Heather, released the following statement late Thursday night:

“From the first responders who were quickly on the scene to the members of the helicopter airlift unit to the doctors and nurses at UAB and everyone else who assisted during this accident, we offer our deepest thanks and recognition that each of them kept a difficult situation from being even worse.”

“To those across the state who have reached out and lifted up our family with their prayers of mending and comfort, we feel your support and know that God holds Garlan in his healing hands.”

“Everyone who knows Garlan is aware that he is a strong, tough, and energetic man who will recover from these injuries and continue serving the citizens of his district while promoting the conservative Alabama values that so many of us hold close.”

The Cullman Republican was elected to the state senate in 2018, according to a biography on the Alabama Senate Republicans webpage.

The Crane Hill Fire Department and Cullman EMS both responded to the scene and assisted with medical treatment and transport.

The investigation is ongoing by ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division.