‘Long road to recovery’ for Harlan County basketball player after allegedly defective firework detonation

HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — A player for the Harlan County Black Bears basketball team is in the hospital after an allegedly defective firework explosion on Thursday.

According to his sister Lexie, Harlan County basketball starter Reggie Cottrell was flown to a Lexington hospital, where he underwent surgery Thursday night.

Lexie Cottrell posted on Facebook around 5 a.m. on Friday that Reggie “went to light the firework and the wick didn’t even light the firework just blew up.”

According to Lexie, several of Reggie Cottrell’s fingers were operated on, but Reggie is in stable condition and is staying positive.

“It’s going to be a long road to recovery so keep him in your prayers. I asked him if he was still going to play ball he replied ‘I’m ‘Reggie Cottrell,’” Lexie said in a Facebook post on Friday.

Harlan County Public Schools posted a statement from Reggie on Facebook around 3 p.m. on Friday, which said he was overwhelmed by support from fellow players and the community, and that he will be “getting back home to Harlan County very soon.”

Lexie posted on Facebook saying the family will not be taking interviews while Reggie recovers from his surgery “to give me and the family a chance to take everything in.”