A California father of five has been paralyzed from the neck down after he dove into the ocean to rescue a child caught in a rip current, his sister said. Josh Collette, 42, was at Riviera Beach in San Clemente on Aug. 15 when a young child, estimated to be between 7 and 8 years old, was swept into the ocean.
Witnesses reported that the child's mother initially entered the water to help, but Collette ran past her and dove in. As he entered the water, Collette struck either a sandbar or rocks, sustaining an immediate injury. He told his wife at the time that he believed he had broken his neck.
Collette's sister, Hillary Collette, told KTLA that several bystanders helped pull him from the water. The child he was attempting to save was brought to safety before Collette was removed from the ocean.
Doctors informed the family that Collette was paralyzed from the neck down. While he is currently unable to speak, his family anticipates he will regain the ability to speak. His family has established a GoFundMe to assist with medical bills, ongoing therapy, and support for his family during his recovery.
"The road ahead will be long, and the recovery will not be easy, we’re holding on to hope," a family member wrote on the fundraising page. "We believe in miracles! We’ve already seen so many and thank everyone for the love, support, and prayers! Please keep praying for miracles! Its working!"
An update shared on Friday stated that Collette is working to reduce his reliance on medication, a process the family acknowledges will take time. The GoFundMe has raised nearly $110,000 as of Sunday night.