Fundraiser Benefits Sunlake Football Player Injured in Tubing Accident

As a 16-year-old boy fights back from a severe head injury suffered during a tubing accident Saturday, the Land O’ Lakes community is rallying behind his family.

Xavier Johnson and a friend were tubing on Saturday when the personal watercraft that was towing them had to alter its course due to a passing vessel, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported. The tube the teens were riding on slid into a dock, taking the boys with it.

Both teens were taken to the hospital, and while one has since gone home, Xavier remains hospitalized.

The Land O’ Lakes community is now reaching out to the Johnson family, trying to ease their financial burden. Xavier is a starting linebacker and fullback on the Sunlake High School football team. His father, Ross Johnson, pastor at Gathering Pointe Church, visited the school Monday to report Xavier had been placed in a medically induced coma, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

“We’re fighting,” Ross Johnson was quoted by the paper as saying.

Sunlake students are also rallying behind the teen and his family. News of the popular teen’s injury spread across the campus like wildlife. Students gathered in the school’s common area Monday to show their support for Xavier, many making “X” signs with their arms in honor of his “X-Man” nickname, others saying prayers for their friend’s speedy recovery.

A gofundme campaign has been established to assist the family.

“At this time it is still too early to tell what the recovery process will include for Xavier,” the campaign, launched Wednesday, explains. “We will continue to pray that God has it in his plan to keep the recovery time minimal; however, if his plan is to extend the amount of time it takes then we want to be prepared for that. We will expect that God’s work will continue to be done on Xavier and those who will be administering the necessary care for the best future.”

The goal is to raise $50,000. If the amount is too low, it will be raised, organizer Valerie Murray wrote. If it’s too high, the hope is to offset Xavier’s college expenses down the road.

As of Thursday morning, more than $4,500 had been raised.

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See Also:

• Tampa Bay Towns Battle for $100,000 Dog Park Grant
• Florida Math End of Course Exams Don’t Count This Year

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