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San Clemente Father Left Paralyzed After Diving to Save Children

His high cervical spine fractures carry a grave, uncertain prognosis requiring expensive inpatient rehabilitation.

Josh Collette was paralyzed after he broke his neck while trying to rescue two children caught in a rip current at a Southern California beach. (KCAL/KCBS/CNN/CNN Newsource)
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Overview

  • Josh Collette dove headfirst to rescue two children on Aug. 15 and said he struck a compacted sand “wall” formed by strong swells and rip currents.
  • He remains in the ICU at Providence Mission Hospital with two fractured vertebrae and a neurologically complete high cervical spinal cord injury.
  • Collette cannot feel anything below his shoulders and is largely dependent on machine-assisted breathing while he communicates by mouthing words to his wife.
  • The family and local community have provided childcare and meals and launched a GoFundMe to cover an expected transfer to a specialized Colorado rehab center and its steep daily costs.
  • El Niño-fueled swell and changing shorelines can create hidden sand walls and strong rip currents that make headfirst dives especially dangerous, underscoring a wider beach-safety risk.