Health
Brit, 24, could be paralysed after Turkey holiday tragedy as family face huge bill
Key Points
Brit, 24, could be paralysed after Turkey holiday tragedy as family face huge bill Will Ponter, 24, from Carnforth in Lancashire, is in intensive care after breaking his neck while diving into a pool in Turkey on Thursday A British holidaymaker has been told he could be paralysed from the neck down after breaking his neck while diving into a swimming pool. Will Ponter, 24, from Carnforth in Lancashire, suffered the devastating accident on Thursday, the final night of his holiday in Turkey...
Brit, 24, could be paralysed after Turkey holiday tragedy as family face huge bill
Will Ponter, 24, from Carnforth in Lancashire, is in intensive care after breaking his neck while diving into a pool in Turkey on Thursday
A British holidaymaker has been told he could be paralysed from the neck down after breaking his neck while diving into a swimming pool.
Will Ponter, 24, from Carnforth in Lancashire, suffered the devastating accident on Thursday, the final night of his holiday in Turkey with his girlfriend, Becky Francey.
He underwent a "risky" 13-hour emergency surgery and remains in intensive care, with doctors saying that "he will be paralysed from the neck down", according to a fundraiser set up on GoFundMe by Will and Becky's families.
Will's family, who are with him in Antalya, are desperately trying to bring him home to England, but say medically staffed transport could cost around £120,000. They are also reportedly facing costs of £2,000 a day while he remains in intensive care in Turkey.
The family say they do not have the correct insurance to cover all the costs and could also face significant bills for specialist equipment and adaptations to his home. The fundraiser said Becky has "spent all of her waking time coordinating with hospitals and insurance companies" in England
"We need to get him home, he's going to need special care. It's going to be a long road to recovery," Becky, 27, told the BBC.
Describing the moments after the accident, she said: "I was stood on the side as he jumped in, but he didn't come back up for a while, and when he did he was just floating face down." When she dived in and pulled him out of the pool, "he instantly said 'I can't move'", she added.
Will’s mum, Julia Savege, described her son as a "larger-than-life character" who is "cheeky and full of fun".
She said: "He and his partner Rebecca are so joyful together and we are very close as a family. We are lucky to have marvellous support from home, people holding music nights, quizzes and other fundraising events.
"Myself, his dad and Rebecca are here in Turkey with him and are confident that he is in good care. We can’t wait to have him home, back with the rest of the family and his large circle of friends who miss him so much."
At the time of reporting, the fundraiser has raised more than £92,000 - more than 60 per cent of its £150,000 target.