By Chas Smith / Beach Grit / April 24, 2024
A San Diego lifeguard is back home after nearly losing his life while surfing Nicaragua. Todd Rice, 23, was in the Central American country enjoying a fine pulse of swell when a panga ran him over deeply cutting his leg. The hit nearly caused Rice to lose consciousness but he mustered the internal fortitude to fashion a tourniquet from his leash and control the bleeding until help arrived.
“I came to terms that for one, at that point, I might die. So I said my goodbyes to the gentleman that was holding my head and told him to say certain things to my family. And then secondary, if I live, I’ve already come to terms that I might lose my leg,” Rice told Fox 5 news.
When his fellow lifeguards heard about the accident, they immediately sprang into action, coordinating with U.S. Embassy in Managua. “Seeing it bring together the service, and we’re there to facilitate and remind everyone within the service and the community that we are a family,” Hailey Westwood, president of the San Diego Lifeguard Association, declared.
Of course, being home presents its own challenges, what with the United States’ prohibitively expensive health care costs. The lifeguards are helping their comrade there too, though, setting up a GoFundMe which opens thusly:
Todd Rice is a staple in the community. Through his dedication to lifeguarding, he has made an impact from Ocean Beach to the shores of Blacks. He also has a great presence in the fishing and surfing communities, just a few of his many passions. The San Diego Lifesaving Association is happy to support one of our own lifeguards through this difficult time.
$43,279 of a $100,000 goal has already been raised.
“Right now I’m fighting for my leg, to keep it. It’s not just me, it’s the whole tribe, it’s a whole group. I feel like it’s the whole city that’s helping me out in this process,” Rice stated.
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