A senior at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara has died after suffering a head injury from a skateboarding accident over Thanksgiving weekend.
Tayden Tomblin, age 17, passed away on November 29, 2025 while the family was visiting friends in the Los Angeles area, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Tayden was a member of the water polo and swim teams, was a part of the Entrepreneurship Academy, and was a member of the Culinary Arts Program.
“Tayden was a cherished member of our Water Polo and Swim teams, known for his infectious kindness, playful spirit, and deep love for the ocean. His impact on everyone he met is immeasurable, and he will forever remain in our hearts and memories,” San Marcos High Aquatics posted on social media.
On Saturday, November 29, more than fifty friends and family joined the Tomblins for Tayden’s Honor Walk, accompanying him from the UCLA ICU to the OneLegacy organ donation center.
“Hospital staff lined the hallways alongside loved ones, filling the space with quiet support as the family took this final walk with Tayden—both a heartbreaking goodbye and a moment to honor the life-saving gifts his organ donation will bring to others,” the GoFundMe page stated.
The family has started a flower memorial at Tayden’s parking spot in the senior parking lot at San Marcos High School. Information on a celebration of life service will be shared at a later date.
San Marcos High School Principal Dare Holdren stated that in order to help support affected students and staff, there will be therapists and counselors available in the Royal Wellness Center throughout Monday and as needed moving forward.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created to help ease financial burdens on the family.
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This breaks me. I am so, so sorry. We mourn with you, Tomblins. May you find peace.
It’s utterly heartbreaking.
I drove by his parking spot yesterday and it is filled with flowers, candles, fishing pole. It shows how much he was loved. So sad for his family.
This is just horrible. I can’t imagine what the parents, friends and family are going through. I’m so, so sorry for the loss of such wonderful sounding young man. My deepest and most heartfelt condolences.
A tragic death at such a young age. This begs the question on whether he was wearing a helmet. If he was not wearing one, his story should be used as a lesson for other kids as to the horible consequenses when an unprotected head hit ssconcrete. When we are kids, we all do stupid things and sometimes pay dearly . A severe concusion is unforgiving. In my life, I have fallen out of a window and rode an uncontrolled street elevator down with serios injuries. Both of these accidents were preventable. Helmet use should be a school subject!