A Brookhaven man on the coast to help with Hurricane Katrinarelief efforts was injured Thursday during a “freak accident” whileworking out at a Gulfport gym, a family member said.

Joe Brewer sustained a crushed vertebrae when the knot on arowing machine cable gave away and he fell backward on his neck,said Steve Fitzsimmons, Brewer’s son-in-law. Brewer underwentsurgery at Memorial Hospital Friday to repair the vertebrae damage,but is paralyzed from the neck down.

“He has some feeling in his right arm,” Fitzsimmons said.

Brewer has been moved out of the hospital’s Intensive Care Unitand has been put in a private room. He is in room 466 at MemorialHospital, 4500 13th St., Gulfport, MS 39501.

Fitzsimmons was unsure of Brewer’s prognosis for recovery.Brewer will have to undergo rehabilitation once he is released fromthe hospital, his son-in-law said.

Since Hurricane Katrina, Brewer, a member of First BaptistChurch, has been on the coast coordinating relief efforts amongvarious churches and agencies there.