‘Below Deck’ Cameraman Suffered Two Strokes, a Subdural Hematoma and Now in a Coma ArticlePure

Below Deck cameraman Brent Freeburg is in a coma after he suffered two strokes and a subdural hematoma on Saturday, Feb. 15, in Redondo Beach, Calif., according to a GoFundMe created by his family.

Freeburg has worked as a camera operator on several reality TV shows, including Dance Moms and Below Deck. During Below Deck‘s sixth season in 2018, Freeburg made headlines for saving cast member deckhand Ashton Pienaar, who was pulled overboard when a tow line wrapped around his ankle.

Pienaar shared the news of Freeburg’s health on Instagram on Tuesday, Feb. 25, adding, “Some people leave an impact on your life that you can never repay. Brent is one of those people for me.”

“If you have a moment, please keep him in your thoughts,” Pienaar continued. “Wishing him strength, healing, and a full recovery. ?.”

Freeburg’s mother, Cheri, announced on the GoFundMe page that her son had a subdural hematoma and was admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. (A subdural hematoma is a “buildup of blood on the surface of the brain [and] in a space between the protective layers that surround your brain,” per Cedars-Sinai.)

In an update the following day, Cheri said her son suffered a stroke and “is weak on his left side.” On Saturday, Feb. 22, “the neurologist explained the damaged part of his brain from the stroke appears to be just his left side of the body and nothing else, so far,” Cheri wrote.

The next day, he underwent a successful percutaneous tracheostomy, which “is a surgically created airway that is kept open with a breathing tube,” per The New England Journal of Medicine. Then, on Monday, Feb. 24, he was administered a feeding peg out of his nose and into his stomach. 

The Monday update also said he does not have any more upcoming procedures, but he will remain at the hospital for “a few more days at least” and then move to a rehab facility. As of Tuesday, Feb. 25, Freeburg had an infection, but doctors have not identified its source. The GoFundMe noted that day that Freeburg does open his eyes “every once in a while.”

On Thursday, Feb. 27, his cousin posted an update to Instagram, sharing “good news” that he “did move his toes and squeeze his hand on command.”

The GoFundMe also chronicled Freeburg’s life for donors. The description highlights how Freeburg became a camera operator and saved Pienaar on the job.

“Brent had no passion to be on camera, but quickly found his way to the forefront during one pivotal and life changing moment. Ashton was quickly whisked away to sea trapped, and drowning. Brent made the decision to break the dreaded fourth wall and quickly went from spectator to hero,” the statement described his heroic act. “However, [he] was always our hero.”

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The family explained that they “are desperate to transport him” to an east coast hospital. “Without medical insurance currently, we are asking for your help,” read the update. “Please spread the word so Brent, our cameraman, our hero, can be at home with his family by his side.”