News

Former Fijian paralyzed after injuring neck while diving off bridge

May 10, 2019 6:26 am

Aseri Bese Jnr is expected to be in hospital for months to recover from his injuries

A family in Auckland, New Zealand is devastated after learning their son has been left paralyzed following a “horrific swimming incident”.

Aseri Bese told Stuff.co his son, Aseri Bese Jr, who is also known as TJ, was rushed to hospital after the accident last month.

The 17-year-old who has links with Fiji had been swimming with friends at Auckland’s Mission Bay after a rugby game, where they were jumping from a bridge into the sea.

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Bese says the boys believed it was high tide while they were swimming, but didn’t notice the tide going out.

Aseri dived into the water, hit his head on the ground and was unable to swim back to shore, his dad told Stuff.

The quick action from his friends did save him.

Bese says he has been advised by doctors that the accident has left his son paralyzed from the shoulders down.

Aseri, who is a Year 13 student, is in the Service Academy and was an avid rugby player before his accident.

A Givealittle page set up by one of Aseri’s teachers to help the Bese family after the “horrific swimming accident” shared his goals for the future.

They including graduating from Service Academy, achieving NCEA level 3, trying to get into a premier rugby team for the school, making the nationals team for Fiji or New Zealand, getting a good job and help his family.

Bese says the incident had had a devastating impact on his son’s future and dreams.