Man, 24, paralyzed from the waist down after spinal injury in freak accident while surfing in Hawaii: ‘I may never walk again’

A content creator specializing in athletics content has revealed a horrifying surfing injury that has left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Brock Kelly, a Mississippi native, revealed he suffered a rare injury while surfing in Hawai’i last Friday.

Kelly, 24, says he is suffering from surfer’s myelopathy – a rare non-traumatic spinal cord injury caused by hyperextension of the back.

This condition cuts off blood flow to the lower spinal cord. According to the Hawai’i State Department of Health, the condition can range from complete recovery within days to permanent paralysis.

‘Recovery is uncertain. I may never walk again. But yet again, there’s a chance I make a full recovery,’ Kelly captioned the post, which featured a photo of him in a hospital bed. 

‘I know the Lord is faithful through it all. Thank you for all of the kind messages! I feel extremely cared for and loved.’

Content creator Brock Kelly has suffered a spinal injury while surfing that has left him paralyzed from the waist down [Source: Brock Kelly/Instagram]

Kelly, who makes fitness and lifestyle content, says he ‘may never walk again’ [Source: Brock Kelly/Instagram]

Brock’s wife, Mary (above), and his mother, Paige, traveled to Hawai’i to be with him [Source: Brock Kelly/Instagram]

Kelly, who has hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, shares content in the fitness and lifestyle realms.

He also owns the Over Everything Athletics Club – a Mississippi-based run club and fitness brand. 

His mother, Paige Kelly, revealed more details in the days following the incident – including that she and Brock’s wife, Mary Grace, were flying out to meet him.

Brock was in the intensive care unit after the injury and he could not ‘feel anything from the waist down.’ 

Later, Paige updated her friends and followers with Brock’s diagnosis – adding that he was working with neurosurgeons to work on the path ahead.

‘His spirits are high, and he remains positive and unbelievably optimistic, even with so much still unknown,’ she wrote in her latest post on Tuesday.

‘He’s already setting goals for himself. He’s sitting here reading his Bible, concentrating on trying to move his toes, and, in the middle of everything he’s facing, he asked Mary Grace and me, “What are five things you’re thankful for today?”‘

‘Please continue to lift Brock up in prayer,’ Paige added. ‘We are still praying for a healing miracle, and I have faith that God will see us through all of this.’