Finn Renard suffered a severe spinal cord injury after striking his head during a training dive at Mission Bay.
SAN DIEGO, CA — A 17-year-old junior lifeguard intern remained on life support after breaking his neck during a training exercise at Mission Bay on the final day of his San Diego summer program, according to his family and local reporting.
Finn Renard was taking part in a routine relay on July 31 when he ran into the water, dove and struck his head on the bottom, according to accounts from his family. The impact briefly knocked him unconscious and caused a serious cervical spinal cord injury. Lifeguards responded at the scene before Renard was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Renard underwent spinal surgery after the accident. His family has said he later regained some movement in his arms but had not regained movement in his hands or legs. His recovery was further complicated by serious breathing problems that required intensive treatment as doctors worked to stabilize him.
By Aug. 18, Renard had been placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, according to family updates cited by news organizations. The system circulates blood outside the body so carbon dioxide can be removed and oxygen added, reducing the work required of badly compromised lungs. His family said the treatment was being used to give his lungs time to recover after more than two weeks of breathing difficulties.
Renard’s mother, Courtney Renard, told KGTV that her son had been in an intensive care unit for 19 days when the station reported on his condition. She said the family had received broad support from San Diego’s lifeguard community, including a hospital visit from San Diego Lifeguard Chief James Gartland. “Just please pray for him,” she said.
The family moved from San Diego to Texas about five years ago, but Courtney Renard said her son returned to San Diego each summer for the Junior Lifeguards Program. She described the program as one of his favorite parts of the year. The City of San Diego’s 2026 junior lifeguard intern program was open to applicants who were 15½, 16 or 17 by June 5 and who met running, swimming and interview requirements.
The city says junior lifeguard interns are expected to participate throughout the summer program and attend mandatory training. The program operates at several coastal locations, including South Mission Beach. Publicly available city information does not describe the circumstances of Renard’s July 31 accident, and no separate city investigative finding about the incident had been located as of Friday.
Family accounts cited by news organizations said Renard had been expected eventually to undergo specialized spinal cord rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Colorado. Those plans depend on his medical condition becoming stable enough for transfer. His immediate treatment has instead focused on the complications affecting his lungs and his need for intensive life support.
A fundraising campaign established for Renard’s recovery drew hundreds of donations as news of the accident spread. The family has said future expenses could include prolonged rehabilitation, medical care, adaptive equipment and travel. Courtney Renard said the response showed the strength of the community her family left when it moved from San Diego.
As of the latest publicly available family updates, Renard remained hospitalized and his long-term neurological recovery was uncertain. His family said it remained hopeful while doctors continued treating the complications that developed after his spinal cord injury.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 22, 2026.