Boy 'Fighting for His Life' After Horseback Riding Accident on Cruise Excursion: 'It's a Nightmare,' Says Mom

Mar. 15, 2025

What started off as a dream vacation turned into a parent’s worst nightmare when an 8-year-old boy got seriously injured during a horseback riding accident in Belize. Now, his family says he’s “fighting for his life.”

“My older daughter and I were already back and saw him being dragged and eventually were able to catch up with him,” she added. “Somebody got in a car and was able to stop the horse.”

Stefan Keryan.GoFundMe

As a result, the family said Stefan suffered third degree burns on his back, arms and leg, and also required surgery to replace part of his scalp.

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“All I care about is him living,” she added. “I just, I want to get him home.”

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Although the family started a GoFundMe to cover costs of the medical flight — and raised over $64,000 as of Monday — in the end, a local news report ended up connecting them with someone who could help.

“It gives me a lot of pride to be able to do this for somebody,” the owner ofPeak Medevac Internationaltold the outlet.

In a post on their Facebook page, the transportation service said they are “happy we could help get this little guy get back home to Denver.”

There, his family says Stefan “will receive the specialized care he needs for a full recovery.”

“Thank you all for your prayers and generous contributions,” a family member wrote in a GoFundMe update over the weekend. “We are blessed to have all of you in our life.”

source: people.com