The Josh Collette ocean accident left the father of five paralyzed after he tried to help two children.
Collette, 42, suffered a severe spinal cord injury after diving headfirst into the Pacific Ocean at Riviera Beach in San Clemente, California, on Aug. 15.
His family said he entered the water after seeing two children struggling in a rip current. The children eventually reached safety, but Collette struck a submerged sand formation and lost movement and feeling below his shoulders.
Father Rushed Into Water to Help Children
Collette was visiting the beach with his family when he noticed the children being pulled by the current.
One child’s mother began moving toward the water, but Collette ran past her and entered the surf, according to an account his sister, Hillary Collette, gave to KTLA.
Collette, an experienced swimmer and surfer, later said he dove headfirst without realizing that the waves and current had created a raised wall of sand beneath the water.
He struck the underwater surface moments after entering the ocean. Beachgoers rushed to help him and pulled him back to shore.
Collette said he could not breathe as rescuers lifted him from the water. His wife, Rose, began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Rose said her husband looked at her and told her that he had broken his neck and could not breathe.
Doctors Found Two Broken Vertebrae
Doctors at Providence Mission Hospital determined that Collette had fractured two vertebrae and severely injured his spinal cord, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Collette told the station that he could not feel anything below his shoulders. He remained in intensive care 10 days after the accident.
Early reports said he could not speak, although relatives were told that he was expected to regain that ability. By Aug. 24, his wife was reading his lips as he described the accident to CBS Los Angeles.
The family is considering moving Collette to a specialized rehabilitation facility in Colorado for treatment of his spinal cord injury.
His long-term prognosis has not been publicly established. Recovery from a spinal cord injury can vary greatly depending on its location, severity and whether the damage is complete or incomplete.
Children Reached Safety
The children Collette tried to help made it safely out of the water. Reports have not indicated that either child suffered a serious injury.
Collette said he would make the same decision again if someone needed help, despite the devastating outcome.
Rose described her husband as someone who has always wanted to help others. She called him the hero of their family.
Relatives said Collette has remained positive while facing a major change to his life. The San Clemente community has helped the family with meals, schoolwork, child care and care for their dog.
Fundraiser Created for Family of Seven
Collette and his wife have five children. Relatives expect his treatment and rehabilitation to require extensive medical care and long-term support.
His brother Craig Collette established a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family pay medical bills, therapy expenses and household costs during the recovery process.
The campaign states that the family is preparing for a long and difficult road while continuing to hope for progress.
Money raised will also help support the couple’s children as Collette remains unable to work and undergoes treatment.
What to Do If Someone Is Caught in a Rip Current
Rip currents are narrow channels of water that flow away from the shore. They can move quickly and pull even experienced swimmers into deeper water.
The National Weather Service advises people caught in a rip current to remain calm and avoid swimming directly against it.
Swimmers should move parallel to the shoreline until they escape the current, then swim at an angle toward the beach. Anyone who cannot escape should float or tread water while waving and calling for help.
People who see someone struggling should alert a lifeguard or call 911. Officials recommend throwing the swimmer a flotation device instead of entering the water without rescue training and equipment.
The National Hurricane Center warns that many rip current fatalities involve people who enter the water while attempting to save someone else.
Collette’s accident involved an additional danger created by shallow water and a submerged sand formation. Officials advise beach visitors never to dive headfirst into unfamiliar water because waves and shifting sand can conceal dangerous underwater surfaces.