Below Deck cameraman Brent Freeburg is in a coma following a medical emergency earlier this month.
“Never has our family experienced a tragedy like this. Our sweet, stubborn and strong Brent suffered two strokes and a subdural hematoma,” a woman named Jane MacMurchy wrote in the description of a GoFundMe page, which is raising money for his medical bills. “He was found after family had a neighbor check on him. He wasn’t heard from for a few days, which is unlike Brent.”
The updates about Freeburg’s health are being shared by MacMurchy’s aunt Cheri, who is Freeburg’s mom. (The GoFundMe has raised nearly $58,000 as of Friday, February 28, and has a goal of $500,000.)
“Brent, followed in his big brother’s footsteps. A camera operator, cinematography, documentation of the most upstanding and cinematic types of television, reality tv,” MacMurchy wrote. “We watched them going on jobs all over the world. Dancing through Pittsburgh on Dance Moms. Surviving the harsh wilderness in Alaska, and his claim to fame, Below Deck. Brent had no passion to be on camera, but quickly found his way to the forefront during one pivotal and life changing moment.”
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Freeburg is the Below Deck camera operator who famously saved deckhand Ashton Pienaar during the show’s sixth season, which aired in 2018. At the time, a tow line wrapped itself around Pienaar’s ankle and pulled him overboard.
“Ashton was quickly whisked away to sea trapped, and drowning,” MacMurchy GoFundMe description continued. “Brent made the decision to break the dreaded fourth wall and quickly went from spectator to hero. Brentrick, as we lovingly call him, however, was always our hero.”
Pienaar, for his part, shared an Instagram tribute to Freeburg earlier this week.
“Some people leave an impact on your life that you can never repay. Brent is one of those people for me,” he captioned a video uploaded on Tuesday, February 25. “I just heard that he’s suffered a stroke, and it’s a tough thing to process when someone who’s given you so much is now facing their own battle. If you have a moment, please keep him in your thoughts. Wishing him strength, healing, and a full recovery.”
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Along with the overview, MacMurchy has continued to update the webpage daily with the status of Freeburg’s health.
“Today has been a pretty low key day. Brent is still on the antibiotics, sedative and pain meds. His fever goes up and down, so he’s still on Tylenol,” the Thursday, February 27 update read. “Good thing is he did move his toes and squeeze his hand on command. Especially good with all the stuff he’s on. And yesterday’s cat scan showed no changes… which is good news too. Small steps.”
