University at Buffalo wrestler Dan Bishop, who suffered a life-threatening spinal injury at the Mid-American Conference Championships in early March, returned to his home in Whitehall, NY today.

Bishop was released from the Sunnyview Rehabilitation Center in Schenectady today where he has stunned ­and won over ­staff with his rapid recovery. From the time he arrived there in mid-March, Bishop has gone from standing with help, to walking with a walker and now is walking on his own.

"Yesterday I walked 45 minutes without a walker,² said Bishop. "It kicked my butt, but I was really happy to go that far. I feel great and have no pain at all, outside of getting tired pretty quickly."

Bishop will remain in Whitehall getting therapy twice a week and plans on returning to Buffalo for graduation. He plans on walking up to get his diploma at the ceremony. He will move full-time back to Western New York by the end of May to finish his coursework and plans on making Buffalo his home.

"I can't thank people enough for all of their cards, e-mails and notes," Bishop said. "It has kept me going every day. I can¹t wait to get back to Buffalo and see everyone in person."

Bishop suffered the injury on March 6, 2010, while competing at the Mid-American Conference Championships at Central Michigan University.

He underwent emergency surgery at St. Marys Hospital in Saginaw, MI that night to relieve the inflammation on his spinal cord after it was determined that a fracture had occurred between his C5 and C6 vertebrae and that damage to one of his major arteries had also occurred. Doctors performed successful surgery that included fusing the two vertebrae back together and installing a metal plate and permanent screws to support the spine. At the time of the surgery, Bishop had lost feeling to all of his extremities.