Dane Garnon: Ulladulla Tribe Fitness Studio owner and soccer player fighting Toxic Shock Syndrome

A community is emptying its pockets in support of a “beautiful” family man, gym owner and soccer player, who has found himself in a nightmarish scenario – fighting for life in an induced coma.

It is expected Dane Garnon will remain in hospital for months.

A community is emptying its pockets in support of a “beautiful” south coast family man, gym owner and avid soccer player, who has found himself in a nightmarish scenario – fighting for life in an induced coma, suffering from a rare bacterial condition.

Ulladulla Tribe Fitness Studio owner Dane Garnon was flown to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Friday after a normal case of the flu turned into pneumonia before becoming Toxic Shock Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening complication stemming from certain types of bacterial infections.

The Milton Ulladulla Soccer Club player’s condition worsened so rapidly, he had to be placed into an induced coma before he could be flown to Sydney, according to family friend Kylie Oughton.

“It is just so surreal for everyone, his clients, his kids and his wife Jade,” she said.

It is expected Mr Garnon will remain in the induced coma for three weeks and possibly remain in hospital for months.

Mr Garnon’s sister Rhian Garnon described her brother as a “family man who idolises his kids”.

Family man and Ulladulla gym owner Dane Garnon is fighting for his life while in a coma.

“His kids means everything to him,” she said. “He spends every spare minute he has with them, playing with them, making them laugh.”

Along with his two children and two step children, Ms Garnon said her brother had four nephews and hundreds of clients at his gym who adored him.

“He’s also so well-known in the community too as the man that owns that cool gym, so it’s just so sad to see this happen to him,” she said.

Ms Garnon said the entire family was “emotionally wrecked”.

The Ulladulla community are raising money for young father and gym owner, Dane Garnon.

“We’re all scared, we’re kind of grieving someone who hasn’t passed,” she said.

Being a close friend of the Garnons, Ms Oughton decided to help them through the terrifying ordeal.

“Jade was telling me she was scared she wasn’t going to be able to feed her kids, was afraid she was going to lose the house,” Ms Oughton said. “Without Dane working, they have no income.”

Ms Oughton took the financial worries into her own hands, starting a GoFundMe for the family to support them financially while Dane remains in hospital.

With the news shocking the Ulladulla community, where the gym owner and soccer player is well-known, more than $15,000 has already been raised.

“On behalf of my family, I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their generosity,” Ms Garnon said.

Along with the GoFundMe, other businesses in Ulladulla are doing what they can to help the family.

Popular coffee joint for clients of Ulladulla Tribe Fitness Studio, Maverick Coffee, will be donating $2 per coffee to the Garnon family on Friday, September 8.

Meanwhile, secretary for the Milton Ulladulla Soccer Club – where Dane plays in the first grade division Panthers team – Neil Wade said the club was yet to determine how they were going to support the family.

“I’ve known [Dane] since he was a kid, so all the boys are feeling pretty bad about the whole thing,” he said. “We only found out yesterday, so we have to decide how we are going to support him and Jade, but with semi finals happening at the moment, we reckon we will be able to do something pretty good for them.”