On September 29, 1999, Binnebose fell while lifting Handy and hit his head on the ice, suffering a skull fracture and brain injury.[1][2] He had emergency brain surgery and was put in an induced coma.[2][3] His heart also stopped twice but he was brought back and gradually began to recover.[2] Binnebose was released from hospital on November 30, 1999.[1] His accident and recovery was featured on the Discovery Health Channel television series Impact: Stories of Survival. As of 2010, he continued to suffer facial paralysis and other effects of the injury but had returned to the ice and was teaching skating.[2]
Binnebose has worked with numerous nonprofit organizations including Feed America and a monthly residual program he started in 2014 through a franchise company, ACN, INC.[4]
Personal life
Binnebose married and divorced a fellow skater, with whom he has two sons. He is now remarried with two daughters; www.jamesbinnebose.com and www.crystalhess.com [2][5]