Footballer Jake Bilsborow left paralysed in freak accident at Bridgwater waterhole

A rising Hills footballer has been left with life-changing injuries after a freak swimming accident at Bridgewater.

Jake Bilsborow was in a tragic accident on Wednesday, February 15, after a swim at Bridgewater waterhole went terribly wrong. Source: Ben Bilsborow

With temperatures soaring, Jake Bilsborow and his mates headed to a popular Hills waterhole to escape the summer heat.

But their fun afternoon turned into an irreversible tragedy for the talented footballer, who was leaping into the water when he slipped and fell 6m on to rocks below.

The 18-year-old Prince Alfred College student has been left paralysed by Wednesday’s freak accident at Bridgewater.

“Jake has a few mates from town and for them, going swimming there is a bit of a unique experience,” his devastated dad, Ben Bilsborow, said.

“They had knocked off early because it was so hot that day and went out there to have a bit of fun. He went to jump from up the top and as he was running, he slipped on some leaves and instead of landing in the water, he fell 6m on to the rock below.”

Jake Bilsborow was a rising footy star who only last year scored his second Mail Medal. Source: Ben Bilsborow

Jake Bilsborow had gone to a waterhole with his mates when tragedy struck. Source: Ben Bilsborow

Mr Bilsborow said Jake had a broken back, a severed spinal cord, a fractured scalp and collarbone and two broken ribs.

He said his son was lucky to be alive but struggling to come to terms with what had happened and what it meant for his future.

“He’s got a formal to go to on Saturday night and just keeps saying: ‘Dad, you just got to help me get some crutches and get out of here and make sure I go’,” Mr Bilsborow said. “So it really just hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Mr Bilsborow said Jake’s sporting aspirations were also shattered.

Just last year, the teen nominated himself in the AFL draft. He also won two Mail Medals in the Hills Football League, including last year in the under 18s, and best and fairest awards for Mount Lofty District and Sturt football clubs.

A talented cricketer, he revelled in his first match with brothers Max, 16, and Gus, 15, just last week.

“That game gave me a lot of joy but those are things I get upset about now,” Mr Bilsborow said. “But then … my youngest son said to me: ‘he’ll still be a Paralympian,’ and that lifted my spirits a bit.”

The Bilsborow family have been overwhelmed by support, with a GoFundMe page already raising more than $64,000. Mr Bilsborow said the money would go towards adapting the family’s Aldgate home for Jake and buying a car with hand controls.