Photo: GoFundMe
Dakota Briley recently endured a devastating car accident that left him fighting for his life in a North Shore hospital. Since then, his father, Pipeline legend Shawn Briley, shared a hopeful update on his condition on GoFundMe.
The accident occurred on Oahu’s North Shore on June 14. Briley, 20, was loading boards into a car by the side of Kamehameha Highway, near the surf break Chun’s, when an 18-year-old driver veered into the shoulder, struck a traffic sign and then him. Dakota was pinned between two vehicles and endured multiple fractures in his legs, pelvis, ribs, and skull. He has also received extensive spinal injuries.
Since then, Briley has been at Queen’s Medical Center, where he has undergone six surgeries. He still has a very long road ahead of him, but as his family has shared on the GoFundMe page dedicated to his recovery, he has been making forward progress.
Briley surrounded by family at the hospital. Photo GoFundMe
“Dakota has been making small steps forward everyday and some days are better than others, but every day has been forward and never backward,” wrote Shawn. “Dakota can throw and hold a ball with his right hand. He also can communicate with his eyes (answering questions) He can also throw up a perfect Shaka! He’s also moving his left hand and beginning to move his head and neck as well. These are all Big moves in his progress of healing.
“It has been excruciatingly painful for my family and I as well as Dakota’s friends to see and experience the trauma that Dakota has endured. With that being said, Dakota is a warrior in the very essence of the word! His stout heart, relentless drive, and fighting spirit has been inspiring to say the least! All of your prayers, love, faith and mana have been beyond effective and truly humbling. Speaking for our entire ohana to everyone who has supported Dakota in any way that we have been truly blessed by the outpouring of love shown to Dakota. For this as his father, I just want to say we are eternally grateful.”
