Parents of freshman left permanently blind and unable to speak or walk believe there is 'a reason’ he is still alive
The family of a student who suffered life-changing injuries from a hazing incident say that he survived 'for a reason'.
Daniel Santulli arrived at the University of Missouri as a freshman in the fall of 2021 and, like many students do, joined a fraternity.
But the choice to do so almost ended up costing Daniel his life following a fraternity pledge event in the October.
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On the night in question, Daniel - who was 19 at the time - was forced to drink an entire bottle of vodka and ended up being hospitalized.
It was later revealed that Daniel suffered brain damage from severe alcohol poisoning as a result of the hazing incident, which has left him unable to see, walk or speak.
His alcohol blood levels had been over six times the legal limit when he was found unconscious.
The ordeal is now being looked at further in a series called Houses of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life, which features interviews with Daniel's family.
According to his mom Mary Pat Santulli, Daniel had been very 'sleep deprived' in the days leading up to the near-fatal hazing incident.
Mary Pat told Fox News: "Prior to the incident, he was very sleep-deprived.
"[The fraternity was] draining his account… He was very drained… At that point, I talked to him and said, ‘Danny, you don’t have to go through this. You can quit. You have to do what’s best for you'."
The Houses of Horror episode reveals that the night that left Daniel with life-changing injuries wasn't the first time he'd been hospitalized, and that a few days prior he had needed medical attention after an older member of the fraternity instructed him to climb inside a trash can filled with broken glass.
Security camera footage revealed the events that unfolded on October 19, which has since been viewed by his parents.
While extremely difficult to see, Daniel's father, Tom Santulli, says that they're now 'on a mission, and we’re going to hold people accountable for what happened that evening'.
Speaking about his son surviving the ordeal, Tom told Fox News: "I think Danny’s alive… because other kids were not as fortunate when there was a hazing incident."
"He’s alive for a reason," the father added.
Daniel now needs 24/7 care, with his parents now being his main caregivers.
The Santullis also have other caregivers and nurses come help with Daniel's care as well as 'different folks who focus on speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy', his dad explained.
Since the 2021 incident, Ryan P. Delanty, Thomas Shultz and Alec Wetzler have all pleaded guilty to charges related to Daniel's case.
Niamh Shackleton