Home / Disasters and Accidents / Hero Surfer Paralyzed Saving Child
Hero Surfer Paralyzed Saving Child
26 Aug
Summary
- Surfer paralyzed after hitting sand wall while saving a child.
- He sustained severe spinal cord injury and broke two vertebrae.
- The family has raised over $221,000 for medical expenses.
A father of five from San Clemente, California, is facing paralysis after a courageous rescue attempt on August 15th. Josh Collette was at Riviera Beach when he witnessed a child struggling in a riptide.
In an attempt to save the child, Collette dove headfirst into the water, unfortunately striking a sand wall. This impact resulted in a broken neck, two fractured vertebrae, and a severe spinal cord injury, leaving him unable to feel anything below his shoulders.
Collette was rushed to Providence Mission Hospital, where he remains in the ICU. While the child was rescued safely, Collette's recovery journey is expected to be long. His family has established a GoFundMe campaign, which has already garnered over $221,000 in donations to support medical costs and other expenses.
