MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The family of Sean Bender, who was critically injured while snorkeling during South Florida’s lobster season, held a press conference at Jackson South Medical Center on Friday afternoon to raise awareness about boating safety.
Bender’s family claims he was struck by a speeding boat on July 24 while snorkeling with his father under the Boca Chica Bridge in the Florida Keys on the first day of mini lobster season.
Newly released video obtained by Local 10 captures Bender’s remarkable progress as he takes his first steps since being critically injured in a boating accident in the Florida Keys.
The 20-year-old was struck by a speeding boat’s propeller while snorkeling for lobster near the Boca Chica Bridge last month, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
Bender’s parents, who spoke publicly for the first time from Jackson South Medical Center, provided an update on their son’s condition.
“Sean, probably more than anyone, has given us the support we need. He’s the one that’s inspiring us,” said Steve Bender, Sean’s father.
“We didn’t know if our son was going to survive,” said Sean’s mother Jill Bender when speaking about the incident.
Sean Bender’s family says the boat’s propeller fractured Bender’s skull and nearly severed his right shoulder. Doctors were forced to remove a portion of his skull to alleviate swelling in his brain.
“He came in with a skull fracture that was in many pieces,” said Dr. Michael Monterey. “He also suffered a traumatic brain injury.”
In the days following the accident, Bender’s family shared videos showing him beginning to communicate again, first by moving his feet and later by singing along to his favorite music.
“I was playing some CCR because he loved classic rock,” said Jill Bender. “And he was singing to it—it was so special... I knew then that Sean was there.”
Steve Bender, who was with him at the time of the accident, confirmed that a dive flag was out when the boat struck.
Although the operator of the boat has not yet been held accountable, Bender’s parents said that their priority is Sean’s recovery. “In all fairness, that’s not a concern of mine right now,” Steve Bender said. “However, I will speak to the fact that there’s a lot of opportunity to make boaters more aware.”
“We still have a long road to recovery, but I feel in my heart that the most significant parts of him are going to be there,” said Jill Bender.
Nancy Fitzgerald, a close friend of the family, also spoke about the incident.
Fitzgerald said a man who was allegedly speeding under the Boca Chica Bridge collided with Bender while two children without life jackets were on his boat.
She compared the incident to a semi-truck driving through a Walmart parking lot at 70 mph.
“There’s a reality he’s going to be in the news for a couple of days, but he’s going to be with us with these injuries for the rest of his life,” said Steve Bender, Sean Bender’s father.
“What was so urgent at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday morning that you tore this family’s life apart?” Fitzgerald asked.
Fitzgerald also urged those in attendance to focus on praying for Sean’s recovery rather than worrying about the release of body camera footage.
Steve and Jill Bender also thanked the staff at JSMC and the first responders for saving their son’s life.
The operator of the boat involved in the incident has not been publicly identified at this time.
Local 10 viewers will be able to watch the press conference in the video below.
For more information on boating safety tips, click here.