Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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When 42-year-old Josh Collette saw an 8-year-old boy caught in a rip current off the coast of San Clemente, he did what his family says he has always done: He stepped in to help.

On Aug. 15, Collette dove into the ocean at Riviera Beach in an attempt to rescue the child.

He survived the rescue attempt but suffered a complete cervical spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Now, as Collette faces an uncertain recovery and extensive medical and rehabilitation costs, his family is watching an extraordinary wave of support grow around him — including here in Utah.

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