Matthew Haylett broke his neck in the water on Saturday, without realizing that there was a sand bank.
His mother, Megan Larson, spoke today with the hope of raising awareness.
Haylett is in intensive care in the Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), currently paralyzed from the neck down and fighting to breathe.
“There is always hope in any situation,” Larson said.
The fellow hero of Haylett, Camden Atfield, was in the water at the time of the accident and hastened to save him.
“I didn’t see him for five seconds and I wondered if he was fine and, obviously, when the waves returned, he started screaming,” ATField recalled.
A cryor Larson accredits ATField for his son who is still with them.
“You saved your life, you know,” he said.
Doctors say that the initial moments after the spinal injury are crucial.
What we recommend is that if you suspect someone has a fairly significant injury in their neck is that they try to minimize how much it moves them, “said Rph Jeni Thomas trauma surgeon to 9News.
Matthew had just started a learning of Western power, but now he faces an uncertain future with up to 12 months in the hospital in a long way to recovery.
“There is a time when you afflict instantly what was going to be his life,” Larson said.
“I just wanted to take your place.”
Larson urges other beach lovers to have more caution and know more about their favorite swimming places.
“Mullaloo is apparently well known by the fact that it has really superficial parts, and Scarborough is the same,” he said.
The 17 -year -old will not undergo surgery immediately, since doctors allow time for swelling to fall.
After a magnetic resonance exploration next week, they will determine their next steps, but Matthew is determined to walk again.
“It’s extremely stubborn, it won’t let that stop it, so 100 percent will exceed this,” said ATField.
Meanwhile, the family establishes a fundraising to help pay their medical costs.
