A young San Diego lifeguard is facing a long and difficult recovery after a standard ocean training drill ended in a catastrophic spinal cord injury.
Finn, who was serving with the San Diego Junior Lifeguards, was running into the water on July 31 when he hit his head on the ocean floor and lost consciousness.
Other lifeguards quickly moved in to assist him before he was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where surgeons performed emergency surgery to stabilize his neck and cervical spine.
“Our hearts are with Finn, his family, friends, and our entire San Diego lifeguard community following a tragic accident,” Prevent Drowning San Diego, a nonprofit dedicated to water safety and drowning prevention, shared in an Instagram post.
Support has poured in through a GoFundMe fundraiser created to help with Finn’s recovery, bringing in more than $55,700 toward a $60,000 goal.
According to the fundraising page, doctors inserted “titanium instrumentation from C2 through C6 and replaced his C5 vertebra” as part of his surgical treatment.
Finn has since recovered some movement in his arms, though the fundraiser’s original update said he still had no movement in his hands or legs at that time.
In a Monday update, Finn’s mother said he was prone again and that the family feels he may be showing slight signs of improvement.
“We’re overwhelmed by the incredible love and support we’ve received. Thank you all so much!” she said.
The heartbreaking accident comes just weeks after another young California lifeguard, 16-year-old Ryder Williams, was hailed as a hero for risking his own life to save a 10-year-old boy caught in dangerous surf.
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The San Diego Junior Lifeguard program trains kids ages 9 to 17 in ocean safety, CPR and basic first aid alongside professional lifeguards.
During the week Finn was injured, junior lifeguards took part in events including a “mile run, buoy swim, paddle relay, beach flags, and more,” according to a San Diego Junior Lifeguard Instagram post.
It remains unclear whether Finn was injured during one of those specific events.
