Haruto Morishita: Dee Why pool spinal cord injury sufferer thanks community for fund raising effort
A man who suffered severe spinal cord injuries when he dived into a rock pool on the northern beaches has been helped by a massive community fundraising effort.
Manly
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The family of a man who suffered life changing spinal cord injuries when he dived into a rock pool on the northern beaches has thanked the community for raising close to $100,000 towards his rehabilitation.
Haruto Morishita, 22, living on the northern beaches as part of a working and surfing holiday from Japan, broke a vertebrae in his neck at the Dee Why ocean pool last month, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.
His parents, who have visited him in Royal North Shore Hospital’s intensive care unit, praised locals for donating a total of $94,300, so far.
They even graciously apologised for their son’s accident causing “worry and inconvenience”.
In a statement on the GoFundMe donation site, they wrote to “everyone who has supported our son”, known to locals as “Harry”or “Mori”.
“We are deeply sorry that the accident that our son had caused,” his parents wrote.
“Our family is filled with gratitude for everyone’s heartwarming messages and support.
“Thank you so much.”
Mr Morishita’s family wrote that his “physical strength is slowly recovering, and he is now able to work on his rehabilitation”.
“There are still many things that we are worried and concerned about, but with his positive outlook and everyone’s support, we believe that he will be able to overcome them.”
His parents, who had immediately flown to his bedside, had to return to Japan on November 9 for family reasons, but were hoping to return to Sydney later in the year.
“We will be supporting him in any way we can,” they wrote. “So if you could continue to cheer him on, we would be forever grateful.”
Mr Morishita, who has undergone several rounds of surgery, was found floating in the pool at the southern end of Dee Why Beach just before 6pm. He was conscious, but told people who were keeping his head above water, that he could not move his arms or legs.
Emergency services personnel waded into the pool to place him on a spinal board before he was carried to an ambulance.
He is now able to talk, but has difficulty breathing on his own. His friends say he is in good spirits and has asked: “When can I start physio?
Mr Morishita, who is also a keen skater and photographer, was working at the Coffee Supreme outlet at Brookvale prior to the accident. Last Saturday its management donated all coffee sale proceeds towards supporting his recovery.
“He’s positive and always brings a great energy — if you’ve met him, you’ll know what we’re talking about,” management said on Facebook.
Organisers of the donation campaign said all funds raised will go directly to Mr Morishita and his family to cover the cost of rehabilitation, upcoming medical treatments; travel and accommodation costs involved for his family; and other needs he may have in the future.
If you would like to help click here.
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