Boy, 17, breaks his neck during his final day of life guard internship

Published: 21:47, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 21:52, 20 August 2026 A tragic accident in California left a 17-year-old boy with a broken neck during a routine drill on the final day of his lifeguard training. Finn Renard dove into the ocean off Mission Bay in San Diego on July 31, the last day of his junior lifeguard internship, according to Fox 8. Finn struck his head on the ocean floor, was briefly knocked unconscious, and suffered a severe spinal cord injury, according to a fundraiser created for the teen. Fellow lifeguards quickly pulled him from the water and provided critical care before he was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Finn has remained hospitalized since the accident and has undergone several procedures on his spine. He underwent emergency spinal surgery to stabilize his cervical spine, according to the fundraiser.  Surgeons inserted titanium instrumentation from C2 through C6 and replaced his C5 vertebra. Finn has shown signs of recovery, including regaining movement in his arms, but he remains unable to control his hands or legs. Finn Renard, 17, broke his neck while diving into the ocean off Mission Bay on July 31, the last day of his junior lifeguard internship Finn has remained hospitalized since the accident and has undergone several procedures on his spine Despite the life-changing injury, Courtney Renard, Finn's mother, told Fox 8 that her son has remained grateful for the care he has received.  'He's a character, super sweet. When they brought him in and were preparing to perform surgery, he couldn't move his arms,' Renard said. 'I guess he told them to remove the mask, and he said, "I just wanted to thank you all for doing your best to keep me alive." That's who he is,' she added. Renard also asked for prayers for her son. A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $90,000 from hundreds of supporters to help ease the family's financial burden. The mother has been providing updates on Finn's condition through the fundraiser. 'Finn was put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) today,' she wrote on Wednesday. 'They remove blood from his body, eliminate carbon dioxide, and add oxygen. This is allowing his lungs to heal after fighting for more than two weeks to breathe.'  A GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $90,000 from hundreds of supporters to help ease the family's financial burden  Finn wearing striped polo pictured in 2020 with his family. Courtney Renard, Finn's mother, pictured left, asked for prayer for her son  She said Finn has remained strong and that the family is optimistic he will make a full recovery. 'We are so overwhelmed by the love and support y'all have given us,' Renard 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!'