On January 11, 2025, Gavin was working as a safety diver for a shark diving company on the north shore of Oahu. During his fourth dive of the day, conditions turned perilous when a feeding frenzy intensified around a bait ball; after rescuing a tangled customer, a Galapagos shark bit his left forearm. Gavin was rushed to Queen’s Medical Center, then later transferred to University of Utah Hospital. Across four surgeries (including debridement, tendon repair, and a skin graft) and ongoing hyperbaric therapy and physical rehab, he has regained elbow mobility and healed his skin graft, though wrist and finger extension depends on radial-nerve recovery or future tendon-transfer procedures. Gavin is grateful to the quick-thinking rescuers and medical teams, and remains optimistic and thankful for the support that has sustained him through his challenging recovery.

We have organized this benefit to ease his financial burden while he is unable to work.