Collier County community showing their support for chef Brian Roland’s recovery

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Brian Roland. Courtesy of the Crave Culinaire website

A community is now standing strong behind a well-known chef who has left his mark. Chef Brian Roland, owner of Crave Culinaire, was catering an event at Ferrari Naples when he was severely injured after being pinned under an elevator.

An event is being held on Wednesday night for the community to come together in support of Roland. There is a Facebook post letting people know about a candlelight vigil for Roland’s recovery in the parking lot of Lee Memorial.

The hashtag #bstrong has also been going around on social media as a testament to how many people care about him.

Roland was still in the hospital on Tuesday and was placed into a medically induced coma while he underwent several surgeries. Doctors are doing everything they can to save him, and his friends say we can help.

MORE: SWFL chef, caterer Brian Roland injured under elevator at Ferrari Naples

“One of the things I’ve learned having medical issues is that the power of prayer works, and the more people who pray for Brian, the better his prognosis is going to be. I’m certain of that,” said Roland’s friend Kevin Takei.

Crave Culinaire is a well-known name across Naples and Collier County.

“Working with Brian is great. He’s like a little kid,” but Takei said he remembers when he was the second chef hired by Roland. “Working with Brian was family; he treated us like family, and he loved us like family.”

On Tuesday, Roland remained in critical but stable condition after Collier County deputies say he was pinned under a freight elevator during a party at Ferrari Naples on Saturday night.

“My phone, by the way, has been exploding. From friends and family and co-workers and firemen. People that know us. They’re asking about Brian,” Takei said.

Kevin Aizenshtat from Collier County said, “we all want to see him get back on track, not just for what he does for the community, but for his brand-new family. And that’s, that’s ultimately what everybody’s praying for.”

Now, Takei and others who know Roland want the community to come together.

Jacqui Aizenshtat from Collier County said, “We encourage everyone to continue praying for his recovery. And I just I really feel in my heart that everything will be OK.”

OSHA has opened an investigation into what happened at Ferarri Naples Saturday night.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said its detectives do not suspect anything criminal happened.

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