PHOTOS - Family and friends gathered at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Thursday afternoon to welcome home Anchorage firefighter/paramedic Ben Schultz.
Nearly a year has passed since Schultz, 29, fell more than 70 feet from a ladder during a training accident at Anchorage Fire Station 5 in Spenard. Fellow firefighters took Schultz, who was in critical condition after the fall on June 5, 2017, to Providence Alaska Medical Center, where he spent four weeks in intensive care before being flown to Craig Hospital in Denver for rehabilitation of a traumatic brain injury. Schultz said he was surprised by warm greeting at the airport and is excited to get back to work in a couple weeks on light duty.