OC Lifeguard Suffers Spinal Cord Injury While On Duty: How To Help

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — A Huntington Beach city lifeguard was hospitalized after a serious spinal cord injury that she sustained while on duty July 3, the city said Thursday.

The lifeguard, identified as Elizabeth Lovat, was taken to a local hospital after the injury where she is reported to be in stable — but serious — condition.

“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 Huntington Beach Fire Outreach Foundation said. “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 attended Huntington Beach High School, where she graduated with honors, officials said. She was also studying speech pathology at Iona College in New York, where she plays Division 1 women's water polo.

Orange County residents can help Lovat and her family through this difficult time by donating through the foundation's website.