Top Chef Alum Justin Sutherland Is Recovering Following a Boating Accident
The Top Chef family is sending love to the Season 16 contestant after he sustained severe injuries last weekend.
Bravo’s Top Chef Season 16 contestant Justin Sutherland is recovering after being involved in a boating accident last weekend.
The news was first shared in a post on Justin’s Instagram on July 4. “Justin Sutherland was in a boating accident on July 3, 2022. He is recovering and in good spirits,” the post read. “At this time his family asks for privacy, but please send him positive thoughts and prayers. He will be off the radar for a little bit while he makes a full recovery, but any updates will be shared on his social media @chefjustinsutherland.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Justin with his medical bills and expenses while he is unable to work; he had no health insurance at the time of the accident. The page offers more details on the incident, sharing that Justin was knocked off a boat after trying to grab his hat, which had blown off while he was piloting the vessel. Justin suffered a broken arm, broken jaw, and many lacerations.
There appears to be no nerve damage to his arm, and doctors are optimistic about the recovery to his jaw and face with several more surgeries. “The great news is, he is going to be fine. With some time, he will possibly be better than fine,” according to the GoFundMe page. “He is adding more character to the face we know and love, and the most important news, his beard is intact.”
The page goes on to say that Justin is currently in the hospital and is “set to be there for some time,” having already undergone many surgeries and with more to come in the future. It is also noted that the chef’s jaw is currently wired shut, making verbal communication difficult right now.
As of the time of this writing, Justin’s GoFundMe had raised nearly $80,000 of its $500,000 goal. “The road to recovery is going to take some time, but you know, Justin loves a good journey,” the GoFundMe page reads. “It is going to take a supreme effort, but this is a man who DOES NOT STOP.”
The message concludes by encouraging Justin’s fans to “keep sending your heartfelt messages of support, watch his shows, order his book coming out in September, and take a moment to tell your people how much you love them.”
Justin has received an outpouring of support from loved ones, fans, and the Top Chef family, with fellow past cheftestants Joe Sasto, Karen Akunowicz, Stephanie Cmar, Michael Voltaggio, Kristen Kish, Tiffani Faison, Kelsey Barnard Clark, Antonia Lofaso, Kwame Onwuachi, Tu David Phu, and Brian Malarkey sending their best wishes to the Season 16 cheftestant on Instagram. Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi and head judge Tom Colicchio also tweeted their support for Justin and the GoFundMe.
