EVANS CITY — The family of the man who puts Thanksgiving turkeys on hundreds of tables each year is giving thanks for the outpouring of support and prayers from the community.

Deanna Ifft said late Wednesday night that she is overwhelmed by her neighbors’ and customers’ response to the freak accident that landed her husband, Omar, in the shock-trauma unit at Allegheny General Hospital with two fractured vertebrae in his neck.

Omar, 53, owner of Ifft’s Turkey Farm off Franklin Road, was found unresponsive on Tuesday morning in a running skid loader with a gash to his head.

Those at the scene thought Omar’s head wound was his main injury, but further testing revealed the injury to his neck.

Deanna Ifft said doctors attached a halo device to her husband’s head to immobilize the area. They will likely stabilize the fractures surgically soon.

She praised the quick action of Evans City Police Chief Joe McCombs, who used an automated external defibrillator after determining Ifft had no heartbeat.

“If Joey hadn’t had a defibrillator, (Omar) wouldn’t be here,” Deanna said.

Doctors told Deanna that only time will determine the extent of her husband’s injuries.

Deanna Ifft said she and her son speculate that Omar was either entering or exiting the machine when the accident happened because one leg was in the cab and one was outside when he was found.