Freak accident at the beach sends teen to ICU as mom warns of waterfront danger
Share this @internewscast.com

A teenager remains in intensive care after suffering severe injuries in a freak diving accident at Hampton Beach.

The event occurred on Monday afternoon at Hampton Beach in New Hampshire, where 19-year-old Aiden Sloan was cooling off in the water with his cousins.

“He was diving into the waves, something I’ve done countless times, but it seems the water was shallower than he expected,” explained Michael McMahon, the Hampton Beach Fire Chief, to Fox News Digital.

Aiden’s mother, Melina Burton, agreed with McMahon’s account and shared her perspective with Fox News Digital, detailing what life has been like since receiving the news about her son’s injury.

Aiden Sloan in hospital

Aiden Sloan’s mom Melinda Burton says he has a long road to recovery, but is hopeful he can rebound. (Melina Burton)

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Sloan, where he is described as having suffered from a broken neck.

“He misjudged the depth of some water at Hampton and, as a result, broke his neck,” the post read. “He is unable to move his legs and hands at this point but is able to move his arms. His mom, Melina, is a single mom and will need to be by her boy’s side as he recovers.”

Burton said it is too soon to tell if there is any permanent damage and said Sloan is just trying to be strong and take each day as it comes.

“The doctor met with him this morning just to kind of explain to him, one, the surgery that they did on him, and two, what exactly his injuries were. When they explained it to him the first time, he was so drowsy that he didn’t really understand,” Burton said.

“So they came back in this morning, they said that he has two things going for him. One, the fact that he’s 19, young and strong, and two, that they were able to operate on him within 12 hours of the injury. So the prognosis we don’t know yet, there’s a lot of different factors.”

Sloan, who is also a chef at a restaurant inside the Nash Casino, is receiving support from his employer, who is donating a portion of sales to his medical expenses. 

“A member of our Greenleaf family, Aiden Sloan, unfortunately suffered a serious neck injury while having a fun day at Hampton beach earlier this week,” Greenleaf Milford wrote in a post on their Facebook page.

“Aiden joined our Greenleaf family at a young age, and we watched him grow as a person and a cook over the years and he and his family have our full love and support during these difficult times.” 

Sloan is expected to remain in the hospital for several weeks before going to a rehab facility, Burton said, and is hopeful things turn around.

“They (doctors) ask him multiple times a day if he can move his hands and his fingers, if he could move his feet and toes, and if he can lift his knees. Or if he can feel anything in his midsection, and he gets very defeated and hopeless when he can’t,” Burton explained.

“And he doesn’t understand why they keep asking him to try these things. So he’s very tearful. He’s very emotional today, which for anybody who knows Aiden, it is not who he is at all. He is always smiling and joking and happy. And even when, you know, life isn’t going so great for him, he is still always just trying to make people laugh. So to see him so defeated and hopeless right now is really heartbreaking.” 

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
San Jose, California robbery: 88-year-old man assaulted during brazen smash-and-grab jewelry heist, police say | Video

Brazen Smash-and-Grab Jewelry Heist in San Jose: 88-Year-Old Victim Assaulted, Police Report | Video

SAN JOSE, Calif. — An 88-year-old jewelry store owner was assaulted in…
What is operation Midway Blitz? Father of Katie Abraham speaks out on DHS' Chicago immigration raid plan

Details of Operation Midway Blitz: Katie Abraham’s Father Comments on DHS’ Chicago Immigration Plan

Joe Abraham shared with ABC7 that someone from the Department of Homeland…
Decarlos Brown facing federal charge | Deadly light rail stabbing in Charlotte

Decarlos Brown Charged by Feds | Fatal Stabbing Incident on Charlotte Light Rail

Decarlos Brown, 34, could face either life in prison or the death…
57 illegal immigrants detained in major New York worksite raid; 5 accused of reentry after deportation

57 Undocumented Immigrants Detained in Significant New York Worksite Raid; 5 Charged with Illegal Reentry After Deportation

A significant federal raid in upstate New York resulted in the arrest…
Macron to appoint fourth prime minister in a year as debt battle topples centrist leader

Macron to Name Fourth Prime Minister in a Year Amid Debt Crisis Struggle

French President Emmanuel Macron is facing down another political crisis and will…
DOJ hits train stabbing suspect with federal charge as FBI investigates on-camera attack

Federal Charge Filed Against Train Stabbing Suspect as FBI Proceeds with Investigation

The Department of Justice revealed on Tuesday that Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr.…
Colorado man dies after car drives over rim of Grand Canyon National Park

Colorado Man Killed After Vehicle Plunges Over Edge in Grand Canyon National Park

This article covers the topic of suicide. If you or someone you…
Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short talk about sleuthing skills and secrets in 'Only Murders in the Building' season 5

Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short discuss detective skills and hidden surprises in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5

Get your sleuthing skills ready. Season five of “Only Murders in the…
7 A's of 'superaging' can make you feel decades younger: book

Discover How the 7 A’s of ‘Superaging’ Can Help You Feel Years Younger: A New Book Explores

It’s one for the agers! David Cravit and Larry Wolf, the minds…
Apple faces challenges ahead of WWDC 2025

Apple Set to Launch iPhone 17 Despite Global Trade Challenges

The new devices are still expected to be made in Apple’s manufacturing…
Patel and Duffy signal Charlotte train murder under federal investigation with national implications

Federal Investigation Launched into Charlotte Train Murder by Patel and Duffy with National Impact

The murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Metro last…
Charlotte mayor slammed over comments after woman stabbed to death on train

Criticism mounts against Charlotte mayor following remarks post train stabbing incident

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a Democrat, is under fire for her response…