Man 'Awake and Alert' After Being on Life Support Following Surfing Accident: 'It's a Miracle,' Says Mom

Mar. 15, 2025

Austin Gibbons.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

A New York man is on the road to recovery after he was critically injured while surfing on a beach in Hawaii last week.

Austin Gibbons, 25, was surfing at Pipeline, a surf reef break located off Ehukai Beach Park, on Monday with friends when he was found unconscious in the water, according toNewsday.

“By the grace of God they were still there,” Austin’s mother Christine toldNewsday.

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Several rounds of CPR were given, and the surfer regained a pulse, per the reports.

“Honolulu EMS took over with advanced lifesaving treatment and transported the man in critical condition to an area emergency room,” the statement said, according toNewsday.

“Honolulu Ocean Safety, the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services and the Honolulu Fire Department all responded to the patient, along with surfers,” Shayne Enright, spokesperson for Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, tells PEOPLE in a statement on Wednesday.

“Our team did what they are trained to do to ensure he had a chance at survival and we are very happy to hear the patient is doing well. We wish him and his family the best on his road to a full recovery,” Enright adds.

Christine flew out to be with Austin after his accident,Newsdayreported. The avid surfer who moved to Hawaii around a month ago to follow his dream of becoming a lifeguard had already been making progress in his recovery, she added.

In anupdate on Facebook Saturday, Christine shared that Austin was taken off life support.

“He is awake and alert, though very tired, and making steady progress. It is truly a miracle and we feel beyond blessed to have him back with us!” she wrote. “Austin still has a lot of work ahead of him in his recovery, but we are confident that through force of will, hard work and determination he will succeed.”

AGoFundMefundraiser launched days after the accident to help “the Gibbons Family cover the mounting costs of the medical and lodging bills that are accumulating.”

More than $120,000 has been raised as of Wednesday morning.

“We are here now due to the grace of God, and the power of prayer that in our case comes with community,” Christine added.

source: people.com