California lifeguard suffers serious spinal injury after she was badly-injured at work

Well-wishes have poured in for an ‘inspirational’ California lifeguard after she suffered a horror injury at work, leaving her fighting for her life. 

Elizabeth Lovat, a standout college water polo athlete, was working a shift on Huntington Beach, California on July 3 when she was hit by a mysterious ‘spinal injury.’ 

Lovat, who’s a college junior, was rushed to hospital following the emergency, where she was said to be in a stable but serious condition. 

Information remains scarce over what caused Lovat to suffer the injury, although authorities reportedly claimed it did not occur while she was on a rescue mission. 

Elizabeth Lovat remains in serious condition after being struck by a horror spinal injury

The star water polo player was working a shift at Huntington Beach, California when the disaster struck

Lovat had been working as a Huntington City Lifeguard as she prepared to return for her senior year at Iona University in New York.

She’s known as a standout athlete throughout the community, and was a star player on the Huntington Beach High School aquatics team. 

At college, she was an All-American player on the university’s D1 water polo team. As a student of speech pathology, she was also on the Dean’s List. 

But her return to California has ended in disaster, with city officials offering little more information than she was injured ‘while performing her duties’. 

‘Our priority at this time is to provide support for Elizabeth and her family while she recovers,’ the city added in its statement. 

Nine days after her injury, her family shared their gratitude for the support from the community on a fundraising page for the lifeguard.

‘Thank you to all those who have sent their love, prayers, and well wishes over the last week,’ the family said.

‘Our family is enormously grateful for the outpouring of support we have received not just from our Huntington Beach community, but from all over. 

‘Please know that your words of encouragement are so comforting to all of us during this difficult time, keep them coming.

‘We also want to acknowledge those who have experienced similar injuries and have reached out to share their experiences. Your stories of recovery and triumph are truly inspiring and have given us so much hope and positivity.’ 

Tributes have poured in for the D1 college athlete as she fights for her life in hospital 

The college athlete was described as a talented yet kind individual who people knew to be a hardworking and successful person. 

Her fundraiser notes that she has ‘received numerous athletic awards’, and before making the Dean’s List she graduated with honors from high school. 

‘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 profile added. 

‘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.’ 

In a post to social media, someone claiming to be affiliated with Lovat’s water polo team described her as ‘the rock of the team’.

‘She was there for every game,’ they added. ‘If she got to play for 39 seconds, it was her entire being that she gave!

‘Her smile and attitude is infectious. I need you all to come and pray for our girl… You are a fighter and will push through the fight of your life.’