NY student suffers serious spinal injury while on duty as lifeguard

A lifeguard and standout college water polo player in Westchester County, New York, suffered serious spinal injuries while on duty recently in California.

Elizabeth Lovat, a rising senior at Iona University in New Rochelle, was working in Huntington Beach southeast of LA on July 3 when she was hurt, officials said.

Details about the injury were not disclosed but Lovat was rushed to a local hospital, where she was listed in serious but stable condition.

​”Our priority at this time is to provide support for Elizabeth and her family while she recovers,” the city of Huntington Beach said in a statement, Newsweek reported.

“Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no other information will be provided at this time,” it added.

A fundraiser posted on the Huntington Beach Fire Department Outreach Foundation website included a message from the family.

​“Thank you to all those who have sent their love, prayers, and well wishes over the last week. Our family is enormously grateful for the outpouring of support we have received not just from our Huntington Beach community, but from all over,” the message states.

“Please know that your words of encouragement are so comforting to all of us during this difficult time, keep them coming,” the family continues.

“We also want to acknowledge those who have experienced similar injuries and have reached out to share their experiences. Your stories of recovery and triumph are truly inspiring and have given us so much hope and positivity,” it added.

Lovat, who was a Dean’s List student at Huntington High School, plays D1 ​Women’s water polo at Iona, where she was recognized as an All-American and is studying speech pathology, according to the fundraiser.

​​“Elizabeth has a passion for helping others and has learned and used her communication skills with American Sign Language to help her community, which has in turn shaped her career and educational goals,” the foundation site states.

“She knows what it takes to overcome life’s most challenging setbacks and persevere,” it says, adding that her dad taught her “not to be afraid of failure.”

Iona did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post.