Nearly $50,000 has been raised for a Nocatee man who suffered a severe head injury in a late Saturday night accident behind the community’s Splash Water Park.
Emergency crews responded to a path near the park after witnesses reported that Vinny Rivera had fallen from an electric device and struck his head on the ground.
The nearby pickleball and basketball courts were crowded at the time, and several people who had been playing rushed from the courts to render aid.
Multiple witnesses, some of them crying, remained at the scene as deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office conducted interviews.
Witnesses reported that he was on a single-wheel hoverboard at the time, but that has not been confirmed.
Distraught family members — including Rivera’s wife — also rushed to the scene, frantically asking emergency responders about his condition.
A police helicopter later landed in a nearby soccer field, and Rivera was transported for advanced medical care.
Now, the community is rallying around Rivera and his family.
In a GoFundMe post, Rivera’s wife, Chanin Rivera, described the incident as a “horrific accident” that left her husband with a severe head injury and in the intensive care unit.
She said he is receiving critical medical care as the family prays for his recovery.
Rivera is a father of two young daughters, including a 5-month-old baby girl.
The fundraiser notes that the sudden tragedy has created both emotional and financial strain, with mounting hospital bills and time away from work compounding the family’s burden.
In just days, donations have climbed to nearly $50,000.
“Please consider sharing this page and keeping Vinny and his family in your prayers,” the campaign stated. “Your love, support, and prayers mean more than words can express.”
