A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $9,000 to help pay the medical bills of a 13-year-old boy who is “fighting for his life” after he was left comatose following a drowning incident in Prospect Park last month.
Rikeverns “Ricky” Joassaint was pulled from the lake by bystanders after struggling to stay above the surface while swimming with friends shortly before 5:30 p.m. on June 13.
Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after a group of men carried the unconscious boy to the shore and rushed him to New York-Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital for treatment.
Ricky’s father, Sergo Joassaint, said online the middle-schooler is still “fighting for his life” three weeks later, writing: “I am praying that he will open his eyes and regain consciousness. My heart is broken and torn to pieces.”
Sergo described his son as a hard-working student in middle school who loves basketball, soccer, music, and playing video games with his 16-year-old brother.
“Two of Ricky’s favorite colors are blue and red. His favorite basketball players are Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan and [LeBron] James,” Joassaint wrote on the GoFundMe page, asking for the Brooklyn community’s help in paying for Ricky’s rising medical bills.
“We are asking for help in any way that you can. Thank you for taking the time to read about Ricky.”
As of July 5, the fundraiser had raised $9,050 of its $10,000 target from 186 donations.
