Sunny Garcia in intensive care
A few hours ago, 1993 World Champion Derek Ho shared a posted on Instagram about Sunny Garcia: "Brother! Shared many good times! Hang in there, son! It's not your time!
The post was met with bewilderment by some commenters, but when similar posts were made by Raimana van Bastolaer and Sunny's ex-wife Raina it became clear something was amiss.
Garcia had reportedly been found unconcious at his home in Oregon and transferred to intensive care. Reports thus far suspect that it was a suicide attempt, and it's unknown what condition Garcia is currently in.
Originally from Oahu's west side, Garcia tuned pro at 17 and had a lengthy and successful career. He finished in the top ten for eleven years running, won the Hawaiian Triple Crown a record six times, but most importantly won the World Title in 2000.
Unfortunately, Garcia kept making the headlines after his retirement, the most notable was a conviction for tax evasion in 2007 (for which he served three months in prison), and being filmed fighting at Burleigh Heads during a surf contest.
Over the last few years, director Michael Oblowitz - who made Sea of Darkness and Heavy Water, the Nathan Fletcher biography - had been filming for a documentary on Garcia.
More recently, Garcia had opened up on social media about his battles with depression, and if the reports out of Oregon are correct, then his latest battle has just begun.
This weekend Lifeline will run the third-annual Lifeline Classic at Queenscliff Beach, Sydney. The goal was not just to raise money - it costs Lifeline $15.22 to answer each crisis call, which amounts to $1 million annually - but also to widen the conversation about mental health.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Comments
Hang in there Sunny!!!
Some people on insta were saying he’s past. I hope that’s not true stay strong sunny
Nothing's official till it is.
There's been some fucken shameful examples of journalism this afternoon.
Yep. Disgraceful.
Sad news either way.
Hope for the best.
OMG! Cant be true?????? Pray that he'll be ok.
Loved his line from Sik Joy "too many barrels my head hurts"
I read he is in hospital in a coma..but breathing on his own.
Absolute Ledgend, I'd put him at the top of competitive surfing in his prime especially at Pipeline. Some epic surfing for sure & I would have given him a few more wins if I was picking the winner...
I can only hope that he can win this latest battle... Thoughts and Prayers for Sunny & His Family's and Friends
There's nothing to add about Sunny's situation just yet. He's alive but still in intensive care. The story has hit the mainstream media but they have no more information than anyone else.
I'll preface this by saying all strength to Sunny Garcia as he lays at his lowest ebb. As unlikely as it may seem at his point, if Sunny can pull through then he'll have a perspective that's been offered to few people. Wisdom, as the buddhist saying goes, is nothing more than healed pain.
The reason for posting is to poke at the tough guy image projected by Sunny all these years and the media's reflection of that image. If its one thing we know from hearing a multitude of cries for help is that many of them come after years of being masked by false bravado. The media isn't complicit when they reflect that image back to the world, they're just doing their job, but they do project a bigger image, one that's all out of proportion to the original, and the protagonist then feels they need to fulfil the new, exaggerated image they see of themselves.
The media aren't to blame but they make everything complex. It's individuals that should question what lies behind the snarl and the pose, especially when the people in the photo are no longer teenagers. By not subscribing to the media expectation they can lower the pressure and everyone gets a truer picture.
It's been disappointing to see some social media posts that still project Sunny as the fearless lion. Show me a snarling tough guy and I'll show you a damaged soul.
Wow, well said. I suppose we can just pray that he comes out alive and well then we will see the real Sunny Garcia 'bless his soul'.
Suicide isn’t an easy idea to contemplate. Often it seems to be the result of deciding that you’ve just had enough. Tired of the struggle.
Doesn’t have much to do with a lack of courage.
Truly sad stuff to hear.
I totally agree. I dont mean Sunny wasn't brave, just that there's always a gap between the media image and the real person, and that gap is where fear and doubt grows.
No idea at the poor bugger suffered from depression. Hope is sought lots of professional and medial advice before he got this desperate. No good thinking that it always has to be this bad when most of the time it is treatable. Andy was a great example of what not to do.
Hey Memla...no offence intended...but lots of ignorance in your comment. When someone suffering depression attempts suicide it's not desperate, it's apparent to them to be the ONLY course of action. In their mind it's not desperate but logical. To say that a medical condition isn't always this bad and is mostly treatable is just plain silly. Substitute the word depression in that thought for the word cancer. Except suicide/depression kills more men than cancer.
We need to start acknowledging mental illness for what it is.
A disease. A deadly disease which is escalating to unprecedented levels.
Again...no offence...I understand the intent of your comment and the compassion you wish to show but these conversations need to be had about how we communicate on the subject.
Non taken crg and for your information I am not ignorant as I have suffered it all my life on and off and have finally got a concoction which works for me. Feeling terrific for the last few years which is why I feel for anybody who can't find the answer. Really shitty thing to have and in my case it was immensely treatable once I found the right shrink, guru, whatever, and drugs however this took me the best part of a decade to nail after doing well without anything for 20 years. Which is why I say in most cases it can be treatable and that is not silly if you hang in there and keep trying things which, heaven forbid, includes drugs. Sometimes it isn't which is really tragic. I have no idea what Sunny has done to combat it and his suicide although logical for him, has huge repercussions on those close to him. It is an enormously selfish disease to have which you only realise once you get well.
Hey Memla
Firstly, I'm really happy that you've found a solution for yourself.
I re-read my comment and it didn't really come across with what I wanted to say, I sounded a bit heavy handed and dismissive so I apologise for that.
I'm one of those people seriously affected by the aftermath of suicide so a few things you said triggered me off. Two family members and two of most closest friends I've lost to this disease. They all had varied success with every conceivable treatment you could imagine over both short and long periods of time. But they all killed themselves and suicide is the biggest killer of our youth today so I'd still like to people to refrain from saying in these conversations that most cases are treatable.
Thankfully, your case was treatable but just leave it at that. Don't generalise. One thing I learnt in the aftermath of these events, is that depending on the severity of the episode certain things should and shouldn't be said to someone.
And lastly, this is a destructive disease, not a selfish one. If we start referencing the context of the disease around the people it affects rather than the victim themselves, then we risk making the situation worse.
Anyway, right or wrong, these are all good conversations to have, it all helps us take small steps forward in combatting this epidemic.
All the best to you mate.
All good Crg it didn't come across heavy handed, just telling it straight. That is an awful run you describe so I can understand how seriously you take it. All the best.
Still Love the Sunny Garcia hacks and drop wallets. Surprised to hear sunny is living in Oregon, bit of change of climate to Hawaii. Wishing all the best for sunny, his friends and family.
I always had a bit of s grudge against sonny probably just jealousy. I hope the situation improves for him.
Fitting timing considering the other story about the comp promoting mental health.
I loved Sunny for the reason a lot of people respected, and feared him; he is a staunch protector of his native Hawaiin patch. Cross Sunny and you're in a world of pain! He's surfing was magic to me as a grom, so all my love a best wishes to him and he's family!
Also, Indo Dreaming, I'm not sure why you would post Jacinta Price and Anthony Dillon as further references for Indigenous affairs. Those 2 are loathed by many Aboriginal people, and for good reason.
IMHO thats a good sign that they are on the right track, it's easy to tell people what they want to hear, but not what they need to hear.
Any further news on this one folks? Haven't seen much on social other than I believe it's much as it was with him in a "coma" and "not waking up". I expect that cant go on forever though...
Have admired Sunny's honesty and openness in recent years with his struggles. Really would be a shame to have another succumb to the depths of depression and mental health :(
I just saw on Johnny Boy Gomes FB updated 45 minutes ago.
"I wish I had good up to date news about @sunnygarcia but he still hasn’t woken up yet. Let’s all keep Praying for him and I’m hoping a miracle will happen and SUNNY will just wake up and opens his eyes already C’mon, Fight This Tuff Fight Champ"
So heavy, Sunny has always been such an inspiring dude, a real human amongst robots, uninhibited and fierce, with that deep dark and delicate belly to it all. I've danced at the crossroads more than a few times, managed to step back each and every, but my heart goes out to those who take the other choice.
Aloha to you Sunny, to all those who love you, and to the big surfing family at large, especially all you keyboard frothers here on SN. Times like these we are all reminded of what really matters.
Any more updates on Sunnys condition
went to bed feeling real sad last night re a late story.
No news except that he's still alive. Last night's story was a hell of a lesson for everyone here. The 'news' broke just before lights out which presented a conundrum: Do we sit on it till the next day and miss the story, or do we press go? If we press go, how much confirmation is enough?
The news was spreading rapidly on Instagram that Sunny had passed away, which on its own isn't enough for confirmation. However, a few people close to Sunny 'liked' posts that unequivocally stated "Rest In Peace Sunny Garcia", among them was Kelly Slater, who actually replied to a few such messages/stories wth likes.
This morning we wake up and find it's bullshit, and we've received a terse message from the 11-time champ telling us to get our facts straight, despite us partly relying on his 'facts'.
It's a minefield this modern media bizness, you walk the gauntlet so many times, but this time we fucked up and we have to own it.
Apologies to anyone who read it and was upset.
Hope you pointed that out to KS re. HIS facts.
Nah, just offered an apology. From what I gather, he's close to Sunny so it can't be an easy time.
Fair enough.
All the best to Sunny.
Edit. Come on Sunny, you got this
Where did you hear this shore dump?
Johnny Boy Gomes Instagram :(
This was posted 20min ago though. Significant people posted about the death a few days ago too. I don't know either way.
FFS! Why would someone close to him say that if they didn’t know. It’s messing with me. You are right, and JBG has changed his Instagram post. Geezuz, I’m exhausted. Sick of the whole fucking social media scene. Terrible. Apologies for following
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-08/kelly-slater-opens-up-about-sunny...