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Legendary Surfer's Son Injured In Horrible Car Accident

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 12:16 PM ET

The son of legendary surfer Shawn Briley is "fighting for his life" following a car crash in Hawaii.

Dakota Briley is currently in the intensive care unit after getting struck by a car on Oahu's North Shore. According to a GoFundMe created to raise money for medical expenses, the 20-year-old suffered "serious and extensive injuries to his body."

Dakota's brother, Ryder, provided a sobering update Monday in an Instagram Stories post.

"Please continue to pray for our Dakota," Ryder wrote. "He's in really rough shape and needs a miracle from God. His ribs have been crushed, his spine is severed and broken in multiple places, the back of his skull has been crushed, fractured in over eight places. From the hip down, his legs have been crushed."

According to the GoFundMe, organized by Haunani Sullivan, doctors stabilized his legs and are "working tirelessly on multiple surgeries to the rest of his body."

"Dakota Briley has proven to be a true warrior. He is strong, vibrant and his smile lights up a room," Sullivan wrote. "His brother Ryder writes, 'At times he appears as so solid, it's hard to handle, but I know that his stubornness, strength and the fight he has in him is what is going to get him through this. We believe he will get through this. He has a lot more battles to fight through, and if anyone can do it... it's Dakota.'"

As of Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe has raised over $39,000, 79 percent of its $50,000 goal. Ryder asked for prayers when sharing a video of Dakota getting serenaded in his hospital bed.

"Pray that God does what the doctors can't," Ryder wrote. "Make him whole again."

Shawn Briley is renowned as one of the world's most notorious Pipeline surfers. The winner of the 1995 Tavarua Tube Classic has often embraced dangerous waves.

Dakota has followed in his father's footsteps as an up-and-coming Pipeline surfer. Our thoughts go out to him and his family as he fights to recover.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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