A Florida father’s worst fears have given way to hope after his 17-year-old son emerged from a deep coma weeks after an electric bike crash.
Anthony McBride Jr, 17, was riding an electric bike through the intersection of NW 29th Street and North Andrews Avenue in Wilton Manors in early August when he was struck by two vehicles.
The near-fatal e-bike accident left the teenager in a deep coma for weeks, with doctors uncertain whether he would regain consciousness.
“It’s been a nightmare. I’ve been at the hospital with him nearly every day. It’s been emotional,” his father, Anthony McBride Sr, told NBC 6.
Following the crash, Anthony Jr was treated in the Intensive Care Unit at Broward Health Medical Center. An MRI scan showed he had suffered a stage 3 diffuse axonal injury.
The precise cause of the Wilton Manors crash remains unclear. However, police said all of the drivers involved were identified and cooperated with the Wilton Manors Police Department.
Doctors told the family that the seriousness of Anthony Jr’s injuries meant the odds of him waking up were low, though not impossible. His father called the ordeal “incredibly scary.”
His family remained by his bedside throughout his treatment, while McBride Sr kept friends and supporters updated about his son’s condition on social media.
Then, at the end of August, McBride Sr shared the update the family had been waiting for: Anthony Jr had awakened from his coma after suffering what his father described as a “catastrophic traumatic brain injury.”
A video posted on Facebook captured the remarkable moment the teenager lifted his hand and waved toward the camera after weeks without a response.
Anthony McBride Jr, a 17, was crossing Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale on an electric bike when he was brutally struck by two cars in early August. He was pictured here with his Anthony McBride Sr, his father, who described the accident as ‘incredibly scary’
The almost fatal accident plunged him into a deep coma for weeks as doctors were unsure if he would ever wake up. Anthony Jr’s family were told by doctors that due to the severity of the injury his chances of regaining consciousness were low but not impossible
‘I can’t even put into words what it feels like to see this. Something as simple as a wave may not seem like much to most people, but to us, it is absolutely HUGE,’ McBride wrote in a Facebook post.
Anthony Jr is in stable condition but in a state of ‘disorder of consciousness,’ according to doctors who spoke to McBride.
The young boy has opened his eyes and moved his eyebrows but is not fully aware of his surroundings. He has responded to touch and sound and continues to gain more motor skill strength by the day, McBride wrote in Facebook statement.
‘I want people to know that he is responsive. He is showing us that he is aware, he is reacting, and he continues to give us little signs that he is still in there and still fighting…every response, every movement, every look, and every little bit of progress means absolutely everything,’ he added.
Photos of the teen shared by his family also show that he is missing some teeth.
The McBride family created a GoFundMe to support their medical expenses and any other financial burdens while Anthony Jr continues his long road to recovery from the ‘incredibly scary’ accident.
At the end of August, his father announced that McBride had finally awoken from the coma after enduring what he described as a ‘catastrophic traumatic brain injury.’ His Facebook video revealed the incredible moment the young boy raised his hand to wave at the camera after weeks of being unresponsive
McBride told the Daily Mail that the funds will go directly to rehabilitation and outpatient therapy that will not be covered by their insurance.
One supporter wrote: ‘My friend, I want you to know that even though his recovery is progressing slowly, every small improvement matters and gives us another reason to remain hopeful. The love and strength of family and friends are often the best medicine for moving forward.’
‘This is such incredible news! In life I’ve learned that some of the littlest things carry tremendous meaning and bring the most joy. Dad, you’re doing a great job. Anthony Jr. keep fighting!’ another commenter wrote in reaction to his recovery.
McBride had taken unpaid leave from work to tend to his son and navigated unexpected hardship as a result. He has since returned to work but only part-time, he told the Daily Mail.
The family has raised $15,000 of their $750,000 goal so far.
‘I want my son to know that I am right here beside him, and I am not going anywhere. I don’t care how long this road is. I don’t care how hard it gets. If this takes months, years, or however long it takes, he will never have to go through this alone,’ McBride wrote on social media.
He encouraged his son to keep fighting and let him know that there was nowhere else in the world he would rather be than by his side through the good days, the hard days or anything in between.
The Daily Mail has asked for details on Anthony Jr’s current medical condition and updates on his recovery process.
Since early August, at least three other minors have been struck while riding electric bikes and scooters in South Florida, according to the Broward Health Medical Center.
In early September, a 10-year-old girl from Miami-Dade was killed in a hit-and-run crash as she was cycling with her brother.
Florida lawmakers pushed to pass a law regulating e-bikes earlier this year, but it was vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis in June.
Ben Sorensen, the Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner has confirmed to news outlets that the city has been working on new regulations.
The Daily Mail has also reached out to Wilton Manors Police Department for comment and additional details.
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