Sunny Garcia pictured at the Vodafone Surf Sessions in Piha in October 2005. The surfing legend went into a coma last year. Photo / File
Sunny Garcia pictured at the Vodafone Surf Sessions in Piha in October 2005. The surfing legend went into a coma last year. Photo / File
Fans of surfing legend Vincent "Sunny" Garcia are still waiting for an update about the American star's health after six months of secrecy.
Garcia was found unconscious at his home after an undisclosed incident and rushed to hospital in May 2019. He woke from a coma in September last year,and although speaking again, was nowhere near a full recovery.
Garcia's daughter Kaila posted to Instagram after her father woke from the five-month coma.
"We are taking one day at a time and celebrating each little triumph. My dad is a warrior and fighting everyday to get better and stronger," Kaila wrote.
"He has said a few words and is now in therapy daily physical, speech and occupational.
"My family and I thank you for your continued support for My dad as he continues to heal. It's going to be a marathon not a sprint but we work every day to make sure he is surrounded with love, laughter and ohana."
Since then, fans have heard nothing about Garcia's health, eager for updates on the surfing legend.
In September 2019 Garcia's family said he was saying a few words and was in daily physical, speech and occupational therapy. Since then there have been no updates.
After six months of silence, Kaila posted another update to Instagram, revealing she has been told not to give out any information about her father.
"I know it's been a long almost six months since the last time I posted anything and there is a reason for that. I just wanted to explain briefly why there have been no updates on my dad," Kaila wrote.
"I just wanted to say how grateful and thankful we are for all of your love and prayers for my dad through these last ten months! Prayer is so strong and I know it works! God is so good and though the pain of what has happened to our dad has been excruciating and unexplainable we know that God has a plan for him.
"We have been very hesitant and have to be extremely careful with what we say that pertains to our dad. I have asked one of our attorneys if it was OK to explain why we have not been allowed to update anyone on our dad.
Pictures released by Sunny Garcia's family in September 2019 showed just how frail the former surfing legend was after regaining consciousness.
"We have been told we are not allowed to give out any information to anyone about our dad anymore. And that's why the updates stopped.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way because I know there are so many of you who love and care for my dad including those of you who have known my dad for 30-40 years or longer and are so eager just to know how he is doing. We wish things were different but this is the reality of this situation for now.
"Thank you all again so much for all your continuous prayers! Please please continue to pray for our dad!"
Garcia, a member of the Surfing Walk of Fame, is a six-time Hawaiian Triple Crown Champion and 2000 ASP World Champion.
The surfer has suffered from mental illness, and opened up about his battle with depression in 2014.
"Depression is no joke … Waking up feeling like you're ready to take on the world, then a couple of hours later, feeling down on life and wondering what's wrong with you," Garcia posted.
"I know I'm not alone and I'm not sure what's wrong with me because I have no reason to feel the way I do and it's been happening for about two years."
