Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Farnham.
Hi Tyler, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2009, while working as a lifeguard captain, I suffered a near-fatal skydiving accident. Shattering my body from impact, the doctor told me, “We managed to save your right leg.” The compound femur fracture was so severe my right leg was nearly amputated. I snapped my left femur in half, broke my upper and lower right arm, shattered both my condyles, fractured my mandible, broke nine teeth that had to be extracted, fractured my skull, and suffered a concussion.
Eleven months after the accident, I received a lifesaving valor award for a rescue with my team of lifeguards on my first day back on the beach, March 27, 2010. Surfing and skydiving continued, and I began volunteering with Surfers for Autism, a nonprofit organization here in Florida. After falling victim to my pain medication in 2009, I had a complete turnaround in 2011 thanks to one of my best friends, Garrett Lay, along with my team of lifeguards at Brevard County Ocean Rescue.
In 2012, I took a leap out of my comfort zone, sold my car, left my full-time job, and moved to Australia to try out for their lifeguarding team. I passed the tryouts and had one of the best summers of my life. What I thought might be a summer job turned into 11 years of living outside the USA, mainly in Indonesia. In 2020, I wrote and published my books, Reaching Cloud 9, the second edition, and Journals from Cloud 9.
In 2023, I moved back to Florida to spend time with family and pick up a full-time position with Brevard County Ocean Rescue in my hometown of Cocoa Beach. Health insurance, time with family, going to concerts, and riding my bicycle are things I’ve missed for a long time. A lot has changed after being absent for 11 years, and adapting to society has been challenging.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Parts of my journey were smooth, mostly fun, and often uncomfortable, with tons of growth. There were many lessons and failures, along with plenty of struggle. January 3, 2020, I almost lost my foot due to a staff infection and cellulitis from a small blister, which ultimately kept me from starting my new job as Boathouse Manager at Nihi Sumba, one of the top-ranked hotels in the world, my dream job. Then Covid was the final blow. In 2023, fate intervened with a motorbike accident, which resulted in a broken wrist 2023. Unable to work, I had to focus on healing while planning my next move, which was home to Florida.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For 15 years, I have been working with the Ocean. Between being an Ocean Rescue Captain and an international surfing guide/coach, I have fine-tuned my craft of sharing the feeling only a surfer knows. While always focusing on safety first, I still enjoy getting people out of their comfort zone. Storytelling and sharing my lessons and failures has become my dream job, which I like to incorporate with the skill of surfing.
Mental health, autism, and addiction have been those I like to speak with and surf with. I am trying to find an alternative method of therapy through surfing. I know it works, as I am living proof.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My dad pushed me into waves, playing with my sister and golden retrievers on the beach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tylerfarnham.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerfarnham/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tyler.farnham
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-farnham-40501959/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAdzxtQ7jLAM-Z6gGwOnTFw
