Just moments before a devastating car accident, a man shared a pivotal sentiment with his girlfriend.
Emily Starling, 23, and Tyler Murdoch, 33, started as neighbors. When Emily moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, last November, she settled into the apartment above Tyler’s, setting the stage for their budding relationship.
The pair, having felt an ‘immediate connection,’ decided to take their relationship slowly over the next few months.
Their first official date was an exciting plan to attend a Tampa Bay Rays game.
In the weeks leading up to the event, Emily was filled with anticipation, even telling Tyler, a public school teacher, that she was having a ‘panic attack’ over her outfit choice.
Reflecting on that moment, she told People: “In hindsight, it’s silly. We were in good spirits, just excited to go to the game.”
They set off in Tyler’s Jeep Wrangler, but shortly into their journey, something unexpected occurred.
Tyler remarked with an unsettling feeling: “Something feels off.”
Emily, who is a social media director, asked him to repeat himself, and then noticed that he was having a seizure, his first ever.
In a terrifying turn, Tyler became unconscious while driving, with his limbs locking, and Emily had to take swift action.
She described the scene: “He’s 6ft 1in, and his leg had stiffened completely. We went from about 25 to 60 miles per hour. It was deafening – it felt like we were flying.”
Emily also shared: “I’ve had seizures before, but never like that – it was terrifying.”
The vehicle veered uncontrollably and eventually flipped three times. Emily was ejected and landed in mud about 15 feet away, while Tyler appeared lifeless inside the Jeep.
“I thought he was dead for like 20 minutes,” Emily recounted.
Help arrived from a passerby, and emergency services were called. Emily pleaded: “That’s the love of my life. Please, I need him. I can’t lose him.”
Despite believing she was gravely injured, Emily’s main focus remained on Tyler’s survival.
Amazingly, Tyler survived the crash.
Emily sustained a broken bone in her arm and minor facial numbness, while Tyler walked away with only a small scratch on his back.
However, a subsequent brain scan revealed a startling discovery; Tyler had a brain tumor the size of a plum.
Thankfully, surgeons successfully removed the tumor, allowing Tyler to return home after just two days in the hospital.
A GoFundMe page has been created to assist with medical expenses, generating over $10,000 as of now.
Recently, biopsy results indicated that Tyler would require targeted therapy for his tumor, as there is a risk of recurrence within seven to 10 years without treatment.
Emily reflected on how the ordeal had strengthened their bond.
She expressed: “I know how deeply I care about him. We went from worrying about trivial things to facing life-and-death situations together.”