Paralyzed surfer returns to the water on incredible adapted board — as he marks major milestone

A Pacific Beach surfer left paralyzed after a devastating accident is back in the water using an incredible adaptive surfboard that helped his comeback.

Collin Bosse, a San Diego State University graduate and former competitive youth surfer, was paralyzed from the chest down after diving headfirst into shallow water in 2023.

Despite suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury, Bosse returned to the ocean with the help of the new board.

“I think it’s a place, I’ve always resorted to going to the ocean as my happy place,” Bosse told ABC10. “That brings me a lot of calm and empowerment as well.”

The milestone comes as Bosse marks the third anniversary of the accident, which he calls his “third alive day.”

“It’s my third alive day. It’s a celebration of life,” he explained. “To me, it’s a day of gratitude and love. Represents my family, friends, and support team.”

When asked to describe his journey in one word, Bosse said: “Confident.”

In a GoFundMe campaign launched to help cover ongoing medical expenses, Bosse says, “I don’t know if I will get as close to where I was before the accident in terms of surfing. But I will 100% surf again. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

His days now include hours of therapy and personal care in the mornings and afternoons. By night, he’s attending his classes at University of San Diego with the help of family members.

Bosse enrolled in graduate business classes in fall 2024 and is preparing to graduate with a master’s degree in business administration from USD in May.

“I always wanted to push myself more a little further than I thought was possible,” he said.

“Makes me feel like I can do anything, motivated for the future,” Bosse added. “Everything that’s happened gives me a unique perspective, and that is a powerful thing going forward.”

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