Relaxing and having fun at the pool has got to be one of life's most simple pleasures. Whether you're just relaxing poolside, or jumping in there and getting your hair wet, it's bound to be great fun.
But it's important to understand the risks that come with jumping into a pool - things can go wrong at any time. That's tragically what happened to 24-year-old William Ponter.
As reported by People, Ponter and his girlfriend, Rebecca Francey, were enjoying a vacation in Turkey. It was the last day of their vacation, and they were using it to relax by the pool of their resort.
Ponter had belly flopped in the water, and simply just "didn't come back up". He'd "just went to the bottom" before "[floating] to the surface face down".
His girlfriend recalled, "I jumped in, and I pulled him out, and he said he couldn't move." She described him as having been "instantly paralyzed".
She continued, "I think I must have been shouting for help... but people were there around him and an ambulance was called."
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Doctors quickly rushed Ponter into surgery. They said that he had broken his neck - with his C4 vertebra needing to be removed in order to allow him to breathe.
They went on to explain that even with the surgery, Ponter would be paralyzed from the neck down for life. Francey said that she was not sure "what the future is going to look like" for Ponter. He is still recovering in the ICU in Turkey - with his parents and his girlfriend by his side.
His family has started a fundraiser to help support medical costs. They explained that "the end goal of 'recovered'" for Ponter is "still uncertain of what that looks like".
They also explained that "The immediate, urgent need [for funds] is help... for his stay in the ICU. After that, there is the cost of a flight from Turkey, back home."
As of September 14, the fundraiser has raised almost $200,000.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ponter and his family as they navigate this tragic incident.
