A California toddler learned the hard way that life’s not a beach — after someone stole his prosthetic leg on his first ever visit to the shore.
Liam Brenes, 4, was having the time of his life Sunday as he soaked up the sun at the Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County.
His father, Frank, told him to leave his Star Wars-themed prosthetic leg — which he got when he was 1 due to a rare bone disorder called FATCO (fibular aplasia, tibial campomelia and oligodactyly) syndrome — in the sand with the rest of the family’s personal belongings so it didn’t get damaged by the salt water.
“We were in the water for two hours,” Liam told KABC-TV Los Angeles. “And came back and everything was gone. They stole my leg.”
The thieves also took off with the family’s cellphone, wallet and camera.
“It’s just heartless. It’s a child’s leg, you know? He needs it to be able to get around and function normally,” his mom, Amanda, told the local TV station.
A family friend set up a GoFundMe page that has already surpassed its $10,000 goal — with more than 200 people donating $16,700 to help pay for a new prosthetic for Brenes.
Brenes planned to ask Santa for a new leg, but he likely won’t have to wait that long.
“Shark Tank” star Robert Herjavec offered to foot the bill for the new prosthetic, as well as accelerate the process of getting it molded and made.
He also arranged a trip to Disney for the family after he was touched by their plight.
“It just broke my heart,” Herjavec told ABC. “I mean to think about what the little boy has gone through and with everything that’s happening in the world and so much negativity.”
He continued, “I just thought if I had the opportunity to make him grow up in an environment where he thinks there are some good people in the world, why not?