A 21-year-old Melbourne man has been left partially quadriplegic in a freak accident while travelling in Europe.
Cameron Wales was visiting Florence in what was meant to be “the trip of a lifetime” when the carpenter, who was celebrating finishing his apprenticeship, suffered spinal injuries from diving into a pool.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Young Melbourne man left partially quadriplegic in holiday nightmare.
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His aunt Christine Russell told 7NEWS that Wales was injured in a “terrible accident” diving into a shallow pool.
He was rushed from his Florence hotel to hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Wales was declared a partial quadriplegic, unable to move from the waist down or use his hands.
The 21-year-old’s parents have already flown to Italy to be by his bedside as he remains in the ICU.
Russell said the injury means the “easy-going, friendly 21-year-old is now facing the possibility of not being able to do what he loves most” — playing football at his local AFL club, cricket and continuing his career as a carpenter.
“The plan was to travel for four weeks and then go and work and hopefully get some sort of carpentry job in the UK for the next 12 months,” she said.
“It was devastating, horrific … very difficult, you know, Cameron was on the other side of the world.
“I feel a very long way from Italy.
“I know that Cameron has a very long road ahead of him.”
Sister Lucy Wales said despite everything, her brother was in good spirits.
“I’m sure he’s still managing to put a smile on people’s faces over in Florence,” she told 7NEWS.
“There’s so much unknown, but there are a few things we do know: Cam is really strong and if anyone is going to get through it, it will be him.”
As a die-hard Demons fan and the brother of two AFLW players, Wales’ freak accident has sparked an outpouring of support from AFL stars.
“I know it would be a tough time at the minute, but we are all praying for you, mate,” Demon Jake Lever said.
Teammate Christian Petracca also sending love, saying: “Want to wish you all the best with the fight, mate, and hopefully, we get the win for you this week. Go Dees.”
Russell has started a fundraiser to help Wales’s family with medical expenses, with more than $210,000 raised in two days.
“Cameron is a strong and determined young man and with the love of his mates and family they will inspire him to embark on the arduous and long journey ahead of him,” she wrote in the GoFundMe.
“Firstly, to return home to Australia and then to maximise his rehabilitation.”
– With Rochelle Brown
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