Victim In Central Park Explosion Out Of Intensive Care, Could Soon Be Released For Therapy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The father of a Virginia tourist who lost part of his leg in a Central Park explosion is opening up about his son's emotional recovery.

CBS2's Dick Brennan reported that Kevin Golden talked about the phone call "that no parent ever wants to receive.'

"They put Connor on the phone just to let us hear his voice and he let us know that he was OK, and the first thing he said after he told us that he loved us very much was that he had stepped on a bomb," Golden said.

On July 3, Connor Golden was visiting New York City with his friends. He was climbing on a rock and then jumped off. When he landed, he somehow triggered a home-made explosive that someone had left there.

Golden was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he had to have his leg amputated.

"He had a lot of damage to the bones in the foot, and so that was when it was felt that it was not going to be possible to save his foot," Dr. Toni McLaurin of Bellevue Hospital said.

Kevin Golden said his son was brave when he learned that part of his left leg had to be amputated.

"At that point, Connor said, 'That's OK, just don't take my hands,'" the father said. "He was happy his hands were still intact. He's a musician and that was his one thought at that moment."

Connor Golden faced three surgeries and is now out of intensive care. Doctors said he could soon be released to face more therapy.

"A lot it depends on how he does getting up his pain management. I would like to see him in a prosthesis in the next two months," McLaurin said.

Police are still looking for whoever is responsible for the explosive devices. Police did not have an update on the investigation.