High School Football Star, Who Recently Became the Hero of a Surfing Accident, Ends Up Paralysed With a Broken Neck

The world of surfing comes with its own set of thrills. The rush of gliding through the swells of the ocean and tackling huge bricks brings a never-forgettable feeling. However, apart from its thrill, there is also uncertainty in this aquatic sport. As with its mighty strength, the ocean can potentially cause a surfer serious harm.

In June, a 15-year-old boy also suffered a grave injury while surfing. Marcos Ornellas, an avid soccer player, jumped into the ocean to avoid a deadly collision and faced the force of the water. Amid this heroic event, the North Bay High School student lost his motor abilities.

A 15-year-old teen loses his motor abilities while surfing

On June 29, Marcos Ornellas was surfing on the waters of Bolina Beach, California with his friend Ryan and a few others. Amid tackling the swells, the 15-year-old suddenly ran into a group of kids from a surf camp. To avoid a life-threatening collision, the surfer jumped off his board into the water. The North Bay resident was engulfed in the water headfirst and hit the shallow bottom. Ornellas broke his neck as he cracked his vertebra and suffered serious injuries in his spinal cord as well, leaving him partially paralyzed.

The teenager, who was floating face down in the water, was located by his friend Ryan and others, who quickly acted upon the situation to save their friend’s life. The surfer was immediately airlifted to the children’s hospital and had to undergo an eight-hour surgery. According to a fundraising page set up by his family that raised up to $110,000, Ornellas, who couldn’t feel his limbs, had a successful surgery and had to spend 10 days in an ICU. Later, while talking about the incident, the teen’s family friend and Ryan’s parent, Stacy Denney, revealed in an interview with KTVU, “When my son came back to him and lifted his face out of the water, His Face was blue, and he said, “I can’t move.”

Ornellas, who will turn 16 in August, is an avid soccer player. The teen played varsity soccer for a team at a high school. The teen also played for a competitive soccer club, Marin Football Club, and was aiming to play soccer at the college level. Sadly, now Ornellas will not be playing football anytime soon, as the 15-year-old might be taking a year off from school. The teen’s sole focus right now is to bring his mobility back. The family has also shared an update on the teen’s health.

Update on Marco’s health.

Recently, the family provided an update on Ornella’s health through his funding page. According to the update “A few days after his surgery, he started regaining some sensory function.” “He has been gaining meaningful motor function, allowing him to move many parts of his body.” The 15-year-old has been moved to a rehabilitation center, Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center, located in Vallejo. Ornellas is currently working with physiotherapists and other specialists with a positive attitude. 

Also read: “Have Every Intention of Being 90 and Surfing”: Kelly Slater Remained Optimistic on His Future Despite ‘Feeling Pretty Old’ in 2016

The teenager is now able to maintain his balance while sitting in a wheelchair. Ornella is taking small steps toward recovery every day. Although the surfer is not completely out of the woods, Ornellas is showing great improvement. The teenager is truly a hero who was willing to sacrifice himself to save tons of lives. Hopefully, Ornellas will soon regain his mobility and will accomplish his dream of playing soccer in college.

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