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California father of five paralyzed after diving into ocean to help child in rip current
ReCalifornia father of five paralyzed after diving into ocean to help child in rip current
Josh Collette, 42, was paralyzed from the neck down after diving into the ocean at Riviera Beach in San Clemente, California, to help a child caught in a rip current. His family has set up a fundraiser to cover medical bills and long-term care.
A California father of five is paralyzed from the neck down after diving into the ocean to help a child caught in a rip current. Josh Collette, 42, was at Riviera Beach in San Clemente, California, on Aug. 15 when a child believed to be 7 or 8 years old became trapped in the current, according to his sister, Hillary Collette.
The child's mother first entered the water to reach her child, but Collette ran past her and dove in to assist. As he entered the water, he struck either a sandbar or rocks and was immediately injured, his sister told KTLA. Several bystanders rushed to help pull him from the water, and he told his wife right away that he believed he had broken his neck. The child he was attempting to help was safely pulled out of the water before Collette was brought ashore.
Doctors told the family that Collette was paralyzed from the neck down. His sister said he was unable to speak but communicated by moving his lips, and the family expects him to regain his ability to speak. The family has created a GoFundMe campaign to help with medical bills, long-term therapy, and support for the family as they navigate what they describe as a long and difficult recovery.
“Josh was hurt in an ocean accident on Sat Aug 15th he has a spinal cord injury,” a family member wrote on the fundraiser. “The road ahead will be long, and the recovery will not be easy, we’re holding on to hope.” The fundraiser added, “We believe in miracles! We’ve already seen so many and thank everyone for the love, support, and prayers!”
In an update shared on Friday, the family said it will take time for Collette to no longer need medication. The family also shared a picture of him from his hospital bed. “Yesterday was so positive and productive! So, it was hard to have a day with less progress. This guy hates medicine! He's trying hard to get off of everything... but, that's going to take some time. Thank you so much for all the prayers, love, and support. We love you all so much and feel so loved by all the help you’ve given us. We’re hanging in there and so grateful for all of you,” the family wrote.
The GoFundMe campaign had raised nearly $110,000 as of Sunday night. The incident highlights the dangers of rip currents at Southern California beaches, where lifeguards and local authorities frequently warn swimmers about the powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that can pull even strong swimmers away from shore. Rip currents are responsible for an average of about 100 deaths per year in the United States, according to the National Weather Service, and beachgoers are advised to swim near lifeguard towers and to remain calm if caught in a current, swimming parallel to the shore rather than fighting the flow directly.
