Community Rallies Around OC Dad Critically Injured Trying To Save Child Caught Struggling In Heavy Surf

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — The community is rallying around the family of an Orange County father of five following a harrowing event that resulted in his paralysis.

While enjoying an end-of-summer beach day at Riviera Beach in San Clemente, Josh Collette noticed an 8-year-old struggling in the surf, The Orange County Register reported.

According to the news outlet, a rip current had shifted the sand and filled in an area that just minutes earlier was deep. When Collette dove into the water to try to rescue the boy, he told news outlets that he hit his head on the ocean floor, breaking his neck and damaging his spinal cord.

Collette spoke to news outlets with the help of his wife Rose, who interpreted for him while he mouthed words describing his experience, CNN reported.

"I dove headfirst, and that’s my fault. I should not have," said Collette through his wife. "I could feel myself dying. I couldn’t breathe, and they pulled me up out of the water."

Now, Collette is facing an uncertain future — a severe, high-level spinal cord injury has left him paralyzed and in the hospital, while doctors try to determine if he will be able to move his body again, KTLA reported.

A GoFundMe page benefitting Collette's family has gathered more than $235,000 in donations, with the money earmarked for hospital expenses, medications, and more.