A Cape Coral man lies in critical condition after sustaining severe injuries in a boating accident.
Daniel Balogh was involved in a “devastating” boating accident on September 14 that injured him, his girlfriend and two others, according to a GoFundMe campaign by Balogh’s son Ethan Balogh.
The 36-foot boat had seven occupants at the time of the crash. It was traveling just outside Bowditch Point where the boat struck a barge, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
At that time, five occupants had been injured severely, while the other two occupants sustained minor injuries, the FWC said.
His son said Balogh sustained multiple life-threatening injuries including:
-
A C7 burst fracture in the neck
-
A tibial fracture in the left leg
-
Three fractures to the maxillary sinus (the nose)
-
A deep laceration to the right kneecap
-
A bruised lower right kidney
Balogh remains in the hospital and faces nearly five months of recovery and rehabilitation, the GoFundMe states.
Balogh’s girlfriend must undergo full facial reconstruction surgery at a Miami trauma center where she was transferred.
“The ripple effects of this accident have left two families reeling, clinging to hope and desperately trying to make sense of this unimaginable ordeal,” Ethan Balogh wrote in the fundraiser.
Ethan Balogh urged the community to stand with his family in any way possible, “whether it’s a donation, a share or a prayer — every single act of support matters.”
“My father is not the kind of man to ever ask for help. He’s built his life around hard work, integrity, and taking care of others before himself. He would never want to be in this position.”
The GoFundMe has raised $5,620 of its $20,000 goal.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral boating crash leaves four injured, in critical condition