MARATHON CITY - Dakota Rachu makes friends wherever he goes.

The 2013 Marathon High School graduate is outgoing and fun, and the type of guy who's always there when others need him no matter how big or how small the situation, his friends and family say.

"It doesn't take long for someone to get to know him," Dakota's friend Coleton Bloch said. "He walks into a gas station and he wants to talk with you. 

"He's helped me when my snowmobile broke down, helped me fix it right then and there. Just a couple weeks ago he was working on his own stuff and I asked if he could help me out with my house and he was there right away. If you're stuck in a situation, he'll push his plans back."

Bloch — who has known Rachu since he was in elementary school when their families camped in the same campground in Tomahawk — nearly lost his friend two weeks ago.

Rachu was thrown from his vehicle during a crash Sept. 28 after he veered off the road in the morning hours on Cherry Lane near Poniatowski about 5 miles northeast of Edgar, said his mom, Terese Rachu. 

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The 23-year-old Rachu has been in a coma ever since but is expected to come out of it shortly, his mother said. He's been giving thumbs up to things and is no longer being sedated. 

But he had his left leg amputated Saturday morning, a decision his parents had to make. His leg was badly injured. 

"The muscles just became too deteriorated," Terese Rachu said. "They tried to save it, but the last time they took him in (for surgery) they said it likely couldn't be saved."

Bloch said his friends knew they had to do something to help Rachu, because he would do the same for them.

After tossing ideas around with Rachu's mom and family, they settled on selling T-shirts and starting a GoFundMe page. 

The money from T-shirt sales is helping the family with medical bills. Dakota Rachu is a big Arctic Cat snowmobile fan, and his friends created a black and lime green shirt that says "Team Rake" on the back and "Staying Strong" on the front. The shirts were designed by his sister Morgan. 

Bloch says he has already put in 419 shirt orders and there are more waiting for him. Anyone who wants a shirt can go to Coleton Bloch's Facebook page or send him a message, he said. 

"I am almost afraid to open my Facebook," he said. "I got back from work in Marathon from Hurley and I had over 100 notifications the other day. It shows you what kind of guy he is that everyone wants to help out in any way."

People who want to help can also go to Peoples State Bank in Marathon or any location and say they are donating to the "Dakota Rachu Fund." 

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Dakota, who works at Marathon Feed as a truck driver, is an unselfish and popular 23-year-old, his mom said. His reputation is helping the family now.

"He has a great group of friends," Terese Rachu said. "The support we have gotten has been outstanding, from neighbors to his buddies, it's just been great to have that support."

Dakota Rachu's best friend is his younger sister, Morgan, who came home from New York to be with him in the hospital from Thursday to Monday before she flew back. Morgan Rachu plays women's basketball for Iona College and is a junior.

"They are extremely close," Terese Rachu said. "She was with him 24 hours a day. (Dakota) knew she was here. She talked to him and his head moved to listen to her. They are as close as it gets."

After wondering at times whether she would ever get to talk to her son again, Terese Rachu is excited that it seems likely any moment she will get that chance.

"I just want to see those big brown eyes again and hear his voice," she said.

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