A 17-year-old boy suffered a broken neck and a severe spinal cord injury during a routine drill on the final day of his junior lifeguard internship in San Diego.
Finn Renard was diving into the ocean off Mission Bay on July 31 when he struck his head on the ocean floor, according to Fox 8. He was briefly knocked unconscious following the incident.
Fellow lifeguards immediately pulled Renard from the water and provided emergency medical care before he was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. He has remained hospitalized since the accident and has undergone several surgical procedures to stabilize his cervical spine. Surgeons inserted titanium instrumentation from C2 through C6 and replaced his C5 vertebra.
Renard has begun to show signs of recovery, including regaining some movement in his arms, but he is currently unable to control his hands or legs. His mother, Courtney Renard, told Fox 8 that her son has remained grateful for the care he has received. She reported on Wednesday that Finn had been placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to allow his lungs to heal.
A GoFundMe campaign established to support Renard and his family has raised nearly $90,000 from hundreds of donors. Courtney Renard has been providing updates on her son's condition through the fundraising page, expressing gratitude for the support. "We are so overwhelmed by the love and support y'all have given us," she wrote. "This fundraiser will allow us to be here with our son for as much of his long road to recovery as possible and help us face the unknown challenges that lie ahead. Thank you so much!"
