HUDSON, Fla. — A Pasco County man had his favorite wheelchair stolen from his front porch this past week, and now, he just wants whoever took it to return it.
- Jim Stoudth paralyzed from chest down due to crash at age 19
- Stoudth runs kayak and fishing store Unique Yaks, also drives for Uber
- Wheelchair stolen while Stoudth was away from home
- More Pasco County stories
Fishing is Jim Stoudth's passion, but how he gets to the water is sometimes half the battle.
“The sand is just horrendous with a wheelchair," he explained. "You sink in it, and you’re stuck.”
A motorbike accident left Stoudth paralyzed from the chest down when he was 19. But living his life in a wheelchair has never stopped him from living out his dreams.
Today, he owns a kayak and fishing store called “Unique Yaks.” He says he also likes to drive for Uber to keep busy when he’s not fishing.
“I just did [Uber] to get out of the house and earn a few extra dollars here and there,” he says.
Living alone, Stoudth says he leaves his most comfortable wheelchair by his front porch, so he can get in and out of his car with ease.
But on August 7, he says his favorite wheelchair, was stolen from its usual spot.
“I just couldn’t believe someone would take my wheelchair,” he says.
Along with the chair, the thieves also took his drivers license, credit card and dog tag from his service dog, who passed away.
“I was just devastated,” says Stoudth.
After filing out a police report and looking everywhere, he says the leads have gone dry.
“Please, if you know where it is, I would just like my wheelchair back,” he says.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of his wheelchair, please call the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.