“Sending Prayers”: Surfing Community Gather as 14-Year-Old Surfer in Critical Condition After Brutal Accident

Picture this: a 14-year-old surfing prodigy cruising down the coast, his board strapped to the roof, eyes locked on the horizon, ready to conquer the next big wave. He’s not just any surfer—he’s Kai Thompson. The kid who just snagged the trophy in the 14 and Under Airshow division at the NSSA West Coast Regional Championships. The future looks as bright as the morning sun on the ocean. But before he can even hit the water, something goes wrong. An accident, just minutes from the surf spot. In an instant, the carefree ride turns into a heart-stopping moment.

But it’s not just about his wins; Kai has also become a bit of a social media star, amassing over 100,000 followers on TikTok. His account features outstanding surf videos and highlights of his journey, giving fans a taste of what it’s like to be a young surfer on the rise.

On October 7, Kai Thompson’s Instagram got a warm takeover by his parents, who shared a touching video of him from CHOC—Children’s Hospital. They wrote a heartfelt caption to keep friends, family, and fans in the loop, saying, “This message is from Kai’s parents. We hesitated to put anything out on social media as the situation is fluid but we have been overwhelmed with all the calls and messages for Kai and we realize there’s a lot of people that love him and want to know what’s going on.” They appreciated all the support, knowing so many people cared and were wondering how Kai was doing.

They explained that Kai had an accident just a couple of streets from home while heading out to surf. The parents shared some tough news about his injuries: “He has lacerations to the face mouth and tongue that were finally stitched up. He has a broken nose that he will have his first surgery for in the next ten days, he has bruised ribs, broken pelvis, a severe concussion.” The biggest worry, though, was the internal bleeding from a grade 4 tear in his liver and kidney. “He made it through the night without a transfusion or surgery,” they added, sharing a bit of hope during this tough time.

In the midst of all this, they asked for good vibes and prayers for Kai, noting, “Right now we are just all holding our breath as the surgeon said and saying prayers that bleeding remains controlled.” They expressed their gratitude for all the love and support, inviting everyone to leave encouraging messages for Kai.

“Thanks to everyone that has reached out, we appreciate it so so much,” they wrote, emphasizing how much those positive thoughts would mean to him when he’s up for reading them. While all this is going down, the surfing community has come together to send their love and good vibes to Kai Thompson. Everyone’s wishing him a speedy recovery as he deals with his injuries.

The surfing community unites to wish 14-year-old Kai Thompson a speedy recovery

Surfers and fans from all over are rallying to shower the young surfing star with love and support. Even USA Surfing jumped into the comments, spreading warmth and encouragement with their heartfelt message, saying, “🙏🏽❤️ love to you and your family.” Kai’s family took the brave step of breaking the news about his accident, making it clear they’ll keep everyone in the loop as he heals. They’ve been open about the situation, aiming to keep the vibes positive and transparent during this challenging time.

Another user chimed in with a sweet message, saying, “Stay strong little dog! Sending prayers,” capturing the outpouring of love and support for Kai. It’s not just the surfing community backing him, but his social media crew too—his Instagram is nearing 35k followers, and they’re all sending their best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Even Jamie O’Brien, one of the youngest surfers to ever win the prestigious Pipeline Masters, showed his support. In a heartfelt comment, he left a string of blue hearts and prayer hands, saying, “🩵🩵🩵🩵🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 love you Kai.” Jamie’s no stranger to overcoming challenges—he dominated the WSL qualifying series and championship tour, snagging titles like the 2004 Fosters Expression Trestles and the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters at just 21. And just recently, on April 22, Kai and Jamie were seen tearing up wedge season together, a true passing of the torch between the 14-year-old rising star and the seasoned vet. Having Jamie in his corner means the world to Kai, and it’s clear the surfing community is rallying hard.

Stars like Kalani Robb, Koa Smith, and Brad Domke have all sent their love, too, proving just how tight-knit the surfing world is. One fan summed it up perfectly, saying, “Our Surf Community is surrounding you with love and healing ✝️.” Through the ups and downs, it’s clear Kai has a solid squad rooting for him, ready to see him back on the board, riding those waves stronger than ever.