NY Times · Oct 30, 2015
Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul Makes First Comments Since Fireworks Accident
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Alternatively smiling and somber, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said Friday that he felt lucky to be alive after a Fourth of July fireworks accident caused the amputation of his right index finger and severely damaged his right thumb and middle finger.
“I’m just very fortunate that I’m alive,” Pierre-Paul said in his first comments to the news media since the accident. “I’m just fortunate to have a hand.”
During the hospitalization for his injuries, he said, he was near others with Fourth of July-related wounds.
“I saw a kid die at the age of 12 years old,” Pierre-Paul said. “One they had to cut off his whole finger.”