Sunny Garcia out of coma

Sunny Garcia is out of a coma and has spoken a few words, but the road to a robust recovery appears like it will be a long one.

Janae Twisselman, the family friend who helped set up a GoFundMe web page for Garcia, updated fans of the legendary surfer on his condition Monday.

“A long overdue update on Sunny,” Twisselman posted. “We are taking one day at a time and celebrating each little triumph. Sunny is a warrior and fighting every day to get better and stronger. He has said a few words and is now in therapy daily — physical, speech and occupational. The family thanks you for your continued support for Sunny as he continues to heal. It’s going to be a marathon not a sprint but we work every day to make sure he is surrounded with love, laughter and ohana.”

It was widely reported — and corroborated by friend and rival Kelly Slater in a June ABC News interview — that Garcia attempted suicide April 29 in Oregon. He was found unresponsive and in critical condition before his slow improvement. In addition, he underwent tracheostomy and lung surgeries for pneumonia before being taken off of life support to breathe on his own about a month after his hospitalization. He had suffered from depression and was vocal about it to help spread awareness of the disease.

As the therapy continues, the hopes are that incremental steps will lead to a full recovery.

“I’m optimistic,” said Chris Latronic, a surfer from the North Shore and KHON morning news reporter who is a friend of Garcia’s, via cell phone Monday. “The images I saw were kind of hard to see. But it’s good to hear that he said his daughter’s name. That’s big, saying a few words, a step in the right direction. Your hero in that kind of condition is hard to see, but we will stay hopeful and keep praying and sending him the best vibes we can for however far he can recover. We are happy with any kind of recovery. It seems like it’s going to be baby steps. Either way, we’re behind him for the long run 1,000 percent, however long it takes.”

Makua Rothman, a pro surfer and another friend of Garcia’s, declined comment on Garcia’s condition, but texted the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday: “I’m gonna go see him this week. I’ll let you know when I see him myself.”

The GoFundMe page for Garcia has raised $138,298 of a goal of $150,000. Since his hospitalization, Garcia’s family has been flooded with social media prayers and get-well wishes.

In early July, Garcia’s family moved him to a California hospital.

Garcia was a shining star among Native Hawaiians in the surfing world during his legendary career, which began at age 16 in 1986. He won a record six Triple Crown of Surfing championships, and his 22 victories on the World Surf League’s qualifying series are also an all-time high.