A young San Diego lifeguard’s mother says her son is doing a little better after a devastating spinal cord injury during ocean training.
Finn, a participant in the San Diego Junior Lifeguard program, was injured July 31 when he ran into the ocean during a routine training exercise and struck his head on the ocean floor, leaving him unconscious. Fellow lifeguards immediately rushed to help before he was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he underwent emergency surgery to stabilize his 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 focused on preventing drownings, posted on Instagram.
Doctors placed “titanium instrumentation from C2 through C6 and replaced his C5 vertebra,” according to a GoFundMe campaign established for his recovery. Finn has regained some movement in his arms, but had no movement in his hands or legs at the time of the fundraiser’s initial posting.
In an update Monday, Finn’s mother said her son was prone again and that the family believes he is doing a little better.
“We’re overwhelmed by the incredible love and support we’ve received. Thank you all so much!” She said.
The fundraiser has raised more than $55,700 toward its $60,000 goal. The campaign details the extensive surgical intervention required to address his cervical spine injuries, with titanium hardware now spanning multiple vertebrae in his neck.
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.
The San Diego Junior Lifeguard program trains kids ages 9 to 17 in ocean safety, CPR and basic first aid alongside professional lifeguards. The program has long been a staple of Southern California beach culture, teaching thousands of young people how to navigate ocean hazards and assist others in distress.
In the viral moment that has drawn national attention to California lifeguarding, 16-year-old Ryder Williams was hailed as a hero just weeks before Finn’s accident for risking his own life to save a 10-year-old boy caught in dangerous surf at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz on July 25. Williams clung to the child as massive waves crashed over them, with fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen eventually joining the rescue effort. The boy, Nathaniel Rai, was medically evaluated and released without serious injury. President Donald Trump later invited Williams and his family to the White House to receive a high civilian honor.