Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) announced on Wednesday that he had been cleared to return to work after an accident at his Florida home sent him to the hospital.
On January 18, the Florida congressman fell 25 feet off of a ladder while doing chores around his home in Sarasota, Florida.
After months of recovery, Steube announced on Twitter that his doctors had cleared him to fly — which means that he will finally be able to return to Congress, though he has still been an active legislator even while recovering from his injuries.
“I’m happy to report my doctor has cleared me to fly,” he tweeted. “I am looking forward to returning to D.C. later this month!”
I’m happy to report my doctor has cleared me to fly. I am looking forward to returning to D.C. later this month!
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) March 15, 2023
Steube’s colleagues took to Twitter to celebrate his recovery and return to Washington, D.C.
“Great news! Looking forward to having you back!” wrote Steube’s Florida colleague, Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL).
Great news! Looking forward to having you back!
— Dr. Neal Dunn (@DrNealDunnFL2) March 15, 2023
“Welcome news. Can’t wait to have you back!” said Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Welcome news. Can’t wait to have you back!
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 15, 2023
At the time of his accident, Steube had been cutting branches from a tree. After a branch hit the ladder, it collapsed, causing him to fall. Miraculously, a colleague’s staffer came upon Steube after the incident and rendered aid.
Darrell Woodie, a part-time field staffer for Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) who also works as a delivery driver, reportedly went to Steube’s house to congratulate him for his reelection victory. He witnessed the fall and called 911.
The Florida congressman was rushed to the emergency room, spending four days at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, which included an overnight stay in the ICU. Steube returned home on January 21, and sent out a tweet about the incident two days later that included a photo of himself at home, wearing a stabilizing brace around his neck while sitting on the couch with his dogs.
“I am blessed to have a great support team in my wife Jennifer as well as numerous friends and family, including the Steube pups,” he tweeted on January 23. “Grateful for everyone’s prayers and well-wishes as I recover from a fractured pelvis, a punctured lung, and several torn ligaments in my neck.”
“While I will be sidelined in Sarasota for several weeks, I will be carrying out as many of my congressional duties as possible,” Steube added. “And our D.C. and district staff continue to be readily available to assist Floridians in FL-17.”
“I’m eager to rejoin my colleagues in Washington as soon as possible!” the congressman concluded.
I am blessed to have a great support team in my wife Jennifer as well as numerous friends and family, including the Steube pups!
Grateful for everyone’s prayers and well-wishes as I recover from a fractured pelvis, a punctured lung, and several torn ligaments in my neck. pic.twitter.com/zQBtsWZPo0
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) January 24, 2023
Steube was grateful to the staffer for rescuing him, and had invited him to be his guest for the State of the Union address in February.
“Mr. Woodie called 911 after witnessing my accident and is the epitome of a Good Samaritan!” he tweeted, sharing a picture of the two together.
While I will still be in Sarasota recovering from my injuries, it is my privilege to share that Mr. Darrell Woodie will be attending next week’s State of the Union as my official guest!
Mr. Woodie called 911 after witnessing my accident and is the epitome of a Good Samaritan! pic.twitter.com/497EHapKlO
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) January 30, 2023
Steube has been hard at work despite being laid up at home, as he was appointed by McCarthy to serve on the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The Florida congressman has also introduced several bills, one of which was the “Safe Storage Lockers for House Office Buildings Act” — which would require the U.S. Capitol Police to install storage lockers at every pedestrian entrance to every House Office Building to allow employees to safely store firearms for self-defense.
