Woman trampled by deer still in ICU with head injuries

A woman who was trampled by a deer inside the Tops’l Beach and Racquet Resort on the morning of July 22 is still in ICU at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola recovering from extensive trauma to her head.
Sheila Potts, 68, of Memphis was reportedly walking back to her rental unit near the tennis courts when a deer that was crossing from one area of woods to another struck her.
According to Potts’ son-in-law Dr. Eugene Scobby, Potts is recovering from serious bleeding in the brain.
“They (doctors) are still trying to determine if she is going to need surgery (for the bleeding),” he said. “She suffered a subdural hematoma and cerebral hemorrhage. We still have to see if they will have to drain blood from the brain.”
Scobby said she also broke five vertebrae, a pulmonary contusion to the lung, a laceration to the scalp and several broken ribs.
“She has no memory of the event,” said Scobby. “Her first memory was when she gained consciousness in Pensacola.
“My wife is down at the hospital with her right now. We’re waiting to see if she’s stable enough to airlift back to Memphis.”
According to Tops’l employee Aubrey Williams, who witnessed the event, Potts, her husband and daughter had gone for a walk. She got too warm and turned to return to her rental unit. While she was some distance away from her other family members three deer came out of the brush.
"She was at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Williams.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission regional spokesman Stan Kirkland said this is the first time he’s heard of such an incident.
“I’ve heard of several accounts of bicyclists bulled over by deer but not a person just walking along,” he said. “In my 32 years in the agency, this is probably the only time I’ve heard of this.”
Kirkland said he wasn’t sure of the size of the deer, but said it didn’t need to be large to cause a serious injury.
“They don’t have to be big,” he said. “Can you imagine an animal that’s 75 pounds running full speed and hitting you with its force?”
The FWC sent several officers to survey the area on Wednesday morning, including Lieutenant Mark Hollinhead, who reported “numerous deer tracks near where the accident occurred.”
Officers believe the deer, along with others, ran in between the tennis courts and a building where there were some bushes before retreating to some nearby woods.
“He (Hollinhead) told me the deer probably didn’t even see her until it was up in the air,” said Kirkland. “It was a very freak thing.”
Gwen Break made contributions to this story.