Southern California lifeguard suffered serious spinal cord injury while on duty
A Huntington Beach city lifeguard is in the hospital following a serious spinal cord injury while on duty on July 3.
The lifeguard, identified on the Huntington Beach Fire Outreach Foundation fundraising site as Elizabeth Lovat, was transported to a local hospital following the injury where she is reported to be in stable, but serious, condition. She was not actively involved in a rescue at the time of the incident, authorities said.
“Our priority at this time is to provide support for the injured lifeguard and her family while she recovers,” Huntington Beach city spokesperson Jennifer Carey said. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no other information will be provided at this time.”
Lovat attended Huntington Beach High School, where she graduated with honors, and has been studying speech pathology at Iona College in New York, where she plays Division 1 women’s water polo.
She was recognized as an All-American athlete and received numerous athletic awards. She has been on the Dean’s List (4.0) in the last year, according to the foundation site.
“Elizabeth has a passion for helping others and has learned and used her communication skills with American Sign Language to help her community, which has in turn shaped her career and educational goals,” the foundation post says. “She knows what it takes to overcome life’s most challenging setbacks and persevere. Her dad taught her ‘not to be afraid of failure’ and her attitude has inspired those around her.”
Lovat played water polo in club and high school for Jacob Moore, who remembers her as a dedicated student-athlete and described her fighting spirit.
“She’s always been an extremely hard worker whether it’s been water polo or lifeguarding,” said Moore, who started coaching Lovat at the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club when she was 13. “In the water, she was always a great listener, always someone looking to get better continuously.”
Lovat was a recipient of a Ben Carlson Fund scholarship in 2021. Lifeguards up and down the coast on Thursday, July 6, paid tribute to Carlson, a Newport Beach lifeguard, on the anniversary of his death during an ocean rescue in 2014.
Lovat’s injury comes just two weeks following Hoag Hospital’s annual Project Wipeout, a gathering of local lifeguards who talk about spinal cord injury and other dangers at the beach.
“Most neck and spinal cord injuries are caused by the tremendous strength of the ocean’s waves forcing your neck and spine into harmful, unnatural positions,” the Project Wipeout website says.
A big swell hit the region on Monday, with waves in the 4- to 6-foot range, causing hazardous conditions along the coast that are expected to continue into the weekend.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that 12,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year, with 8% of those suffered during a recreational activity.
According to a story in 2015, there are typically anywhere from 40 to 50 spinal cords injuries of varying severity each year in Huntington Beach.
Staff Writer Dan Albano contributed to this report.