( CNN ) -- A Dallas Cowboys scouting assistant suffered a broken back and has been permanently paralyzed after the collapse of the team 's practice canopy during a heavy thunderstorm , the Cowboys announced Sunday . An aerial view of the scene shows the Dallas Cowboys logo amid the ruins of the indoor practice facility . Rich Behm , 33 , was one of three Cowboys staffers seriously hurt when the storm struck their practice facility Saturday afternoon . Behm 's spinal cord was severed by a fractured vertebrae , paralyzing him from the waist down , the team said in a written statement . `` To the Behm family , we extend our love , comfort and the full support of every person and resource within the organization , '' Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said . `` Rich is a courageous member of our family and someone for whom we care deeply . We ask for all friends and fans of the Dallas Cowboys to join us in embracing him and his family with their thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time , '' Jones said . A total of 12 people were hurt when a severe thunderstorm knocked down the air-supported , metal frame structure that covered the team 's practice field . About 70 people , including more than two dozen of the team 's rookies , were in the facility when it was blown down . Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis had a fractured cervical vertebra , while assistant trainer Greg Gaither had two broken bones in his leg , the team said . Watch CNN 's Don Lemon with update on conditions of those injured in collapse » . A line of heavy thunderstorms was moving through the Dallas area at the time , but no other damage to buildings was reported , said Mike Adams , a dispatcher for the Irving , Texas , Fire Department . Watch the roof collapse on players , coaches » . Arnold Payne , a photographer for WFAA , was shooting the Cowboys ' practice session Saturday when rain began falling `` tremendously hard . '' `` I noticed the walls started to waver ... and then I noticed that the lights that were hanging from the ceiling started to sway , and it would n't stop , '' Payne told CNN . Shortly after that , he said , `` It was as if someone took a stick pin and hit a balloon . '' Watch Payne describe being inside when structure collapsed » . Payne said Cowboys staff photographers were up in the metal framework beneath the canopy to film the practice session and `` actually rode the building down with the storm . '' `` There was nowhere for them to go , and it fell so fast -- it just collapsed as if it was being imploded , '' Payne said . CNN 's Matt Smith contributed to this report .
Rich Behm one of three Cowboys staffers seriously hurt Saturday . Behm 's spinal cord severed by a fractured vertebrae , paralyzing him from waist down . Canopy over Dallas Cowboys ' practice facility collapsed during thunderstorm . Score: 6