A California father of five is paralyzed after diving headfirst into the ocean in an attempt to rescue two young children struggling in a rip current.
Josh Collette, 45, an experienced surfer and swimmer, jumped into action on August 15 at Riviera Beach in San Clemente.
When it became clear the children were in danger, their mother started running toward the water to help, but Collette rushed past her and dove in first, his sister Hillary Collette told KTLA.
As he entered the surf, however, shifting water from the rip current had formed a sandbar, and Collette struck his head.
He has been in the intensive care unit at Providence Mission Hospital since the accident and is now paralyzed from the neck down.
The children, believed by Hillary to be around seven or eight years old, were later safely brought back to shore by others after Collette was injured.
Doctors said Collette fractured two vertebrae and suffered severe damage to his spinal cord. He has no feeling below his shoulders and is currently unable to speak, though he can communicate by mouthing words.
From his hospital bed, with his wife Rose interpreting for him, Collette told CBS News: “I dove head first, and that’s my fault. I should not have.”
Josh Collette, a 45-year-old father of five, was paralyzed after hitting his head while diving in the ocean as he tried to save two children caught in a rip current
Collette hit his head on a sandbar that was created by the rip current that wasn’t present when he was in the water before he jumped in
Collette is currently unable to speak but can communicate by mouthing words that his wife, Rose, interprets. He is pictured with his wife and their five children
He also described immediately knowing that his injury was serious after hitting the sandbar, as his body began tingling while bystanders rushed over to help and Rose began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
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‘We knew right away,’ Collette’s wife told CBS News. ‘He looked at me dead in the eyes and said, “I broke my neck. I cannot breathe.”‘
Collette explained that he had just been in the water before diving in and felt confident about the depth.
He said he was grateful for all of the love and support he has received from his family and the San Clemente community.
‘This is hard, but it’s bearable because I’m held up by your love,’ Collette mouthed in a video his wife shared on Instagram.
‘Things always work out for me, and I don’t know how, but I’m sure things will be so different. I only lose the dumb things like money, surfing, hobbies, but I keep the most important things: my family and my kids. And my heart is full of love.
‘While I was trying to help someone else, this is on me. It was my choice. I needed to act quickly, so I jumped in, and I should not have.
‘I’m a fighter, and I’ll do everything I can. If I can stay alive, keep my kids and my faith, then this will be a blessing.’
Collette described how he immediately knew he had broken his neck as his body began tingling and he struggled to breathe
Collette said he has had overwhelming support from his family and the San Clemente Community. A GoFundMe for the father of five has raised nearly $228,000
‘And a slurpy would be nice,’ he joked.
A GoFundMe organized by Collette’s brother, Craig, to help pay for the family’s medical expenses and future physical therapy bills said: ‘The road ahead will be long, and the recovery will not be easy, we’re holding on to hope. We believe in miracles!’
An update posted on Friday included a picture of Collette smiling and said that he made great progress the day before.
The fundraiser has raised nearly $228,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
