Official Press Release
Updated
For Immediate Release Media Contact
May 22, 2009 Amy Elias
Profiles, Inc.
[email protected]
410-243-3790
TRAGIC TURN FOR SPORTS FISHING LEGEND, TRED BARTA
Television Host and Icon of Sports Fishing and Hunting Suffers Spinal Stroke
The highly rated television series “The Best & Worst of Tred Barta” has
taken a tragic turn as its host Tred Barta was struck last week by a spinal
cord stroke just before completing filming of the final episode of the series.
The final episode, which will be aired on the Versus Network later this year,
will be an up-front and personal account of Barta’s fight to regain the use
of his lower extremities that were left paralyzed from the stroke and how
this will now relate to his ability and desire to continue to participate in
wilderness and high seas adventures.
Barta, the icon of sports fishing and hunting, suffered the spinal cord
stroke in mid-May and is currently under the care of doctors at Denver
Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.
“I’ve fought to earn world records for some of the most challenging
fish in the ocean and have hunted dangerous game in the wilderness with
only my long bow, but nothing compares to the fight I am in now,” said
Barta. Spinal cord stroke is among the rarest forms of strokes – 1.2% of all
strokes. The overall annual incidence of spinal cord strokes is estimated to
be only 12 strokes in 100,000 people.
“Mr. Barta has suffered a spinal cord stroke which is a very
uncommon condition. However, he has applied his uniquely vigorous and
positive attitude in responding to his illness,” said Michael Earnest, M.D.,
neurologist, Denver Health. “Tred continues to do things the ‘Barta Way’
working hard and assisting in his daily recovery process. We look forward
to his continued progress as he moves to the next level of care. He has
earned the respect and admiration of all of us who are caring for him.”
Barta is a multiple world record holder in both sport fishing and
hunting and hunts almost exclusively with a long-bow and home-made
wooden arrows and fishes for marlin and tuna using only the lightest
tackle. Fair chase and fair game are the hallmarks of his outdoor ethic.
His Barta Blue Marlin Charity Tournaments, now held in Beaufort, North
Carolina, are famous for its catch and release-honor system scoring
format and have raised more than one million dollars for children’s
causes.
“Tred has never done anything the easy way,” says Dean Travis
Clarke, Barta’s editor of 20 years and fellow Versus Network TV host. “When he focuses on a goal, get out of the way or he’ll roll right over you!
I believe with all my heart that Tred will approach walking again with that
same drive and motivation.”
Barta who is also a prolific author writes for Sportfishing Magazine
and Big Game Fishing Journal and is largely credited for his role in
pioneering offshore “Canyon” fishing and how to fish, a North East Gulf
Stream phenomena called warm core eddy formations.
Information about Tred Barta and his medical progress can be
found at www.sportfishermen.com ####
