Dakota Briley, a surfer on the Northern Shore of Oahu, is “fighting for his life” according to his family after being hit by a car on the Kamehameha Highway on June 14 while loading surf board into the back of a vehicle. After being hit, he wound up pinned between two other cars. Briley, 20, is the son of surf icon Shawn Briley, who gained fame for surfing the Banzai Pipeline, which can reach heights of 20 feet. He won the Tavarua Tube Classic in 1995.
A GoFundMe for the family reports that Dakota “is suffering from multiple fractures in his legs, pelvis, ribs, and skull. His spine has also endured unthinkable injuries.” Dakota’s brother, Ryder, took to social media to beg for prayers. “Please continue to pray for our Dakota, he’s in really rough shape and needs a miracle from god, his ribs have been crushed, his spine is severed and broken in multiple places, the back of his skull has been crushed, fractured in over 8 places, from the hip down his legs have been crushed,” he wrote. “He needs a miracle, please pray for God to make him whole again.” In a later post, he asked for specific prayer for Dakota’s spinal cord. “…pray that god knits his spinal cord back together and perform a miracle,” he pleaded. “pray that god does what the doctors can’t, make him whole again lord, from head to toe heal dakota, do what only you can do, a god who does miracles. Continue to give him strength and comfort him. MAKE HIM WHOLE AGAIN.”
Dakota remains in the ICU with an apparently long road to recovery ahead. According to the GoFundMe, doctors were “able to stabilize his legs and are now working tirelessly on multiple surgeries to the rest of his body.” The fund organizer describes the Briley family as “salt of the earth.” “Dakota Briley has proven to be a true warrior. He is strong, vibrant and his smile lights up a room,” wrote the organizer. “Our hope is that God performs a miracle. Please continue to pray for him, and that God works and shines his blessings over this young, strong man.” The GoFundMe for the family has raised nearly $160,000. They can be supported through prayer or by through the fund here.
