‘Started screaming’: Mum’s warning after teen son paralysed after diving into sandbar

A mum has issued a stark warning to others after her 17-year-old son suffered a horrific and devastating injury while diving at a popular beach with friends.

A mother has issued a stark warning to others and recounted the horrific moment her 17-year-old son suffered a broken neck after a dive went wrong at a beach in Perth.

Matthew Haylett was at Mullaloo Beach in Perth’s north when he and his friends dived into the water.

Little did he know there was a sandbar directly below him, snapping his neck upon impact.

Matthew Haylett broke his neck after diving into a sandbar at Mullaloo Beach in Perth’s north. Picture: 9News

His friend Camden Atfield, who was in the water at the same time, pulled Matthew out of the waves after hearing screams.

“I didn’t see him for like five seconds, and I was just wondering if he was OK, and then, obviously, when the waves came back, he just started screaming,” Camden told 9News.

Immediately after the incident, Matthew told his friend he couldn’t move and was paralysed from the neck down.

The teenager snapped his neck and is paralysed, unable to breathe for himself. Picture: 9News

The teen’s mother, Megan Larson, thanked Camden for his quick response that she said saved her son’s life.

“You saved his life, you know,” she said.

Royal Perth Hospital trauma surgeon Jeni Thomas said those who suspected someone had suffered such trauma should “try to minimise how much you move them”, as the first moments were critical when treating a spinal injury.

In ICU and unable to breathe on his own, Matthew is likely to spend at least 12 months in hospital, with no clear indication of a full recovery.

His mother is urging others to take caution around shallow water when swimming at the beach. Picture: 9News

His mother is now urging others to be extra cautious when swimming at the beach and to look out for shallow areas of the water before diving.

“Mullaloo, apparently, is well known for the fact that it has got really shallow parts in it,” she told reporters.

“Scarborough is the same.”

Matthew has a long road to recovery ahead. Picture: 9News

The heartbroken mother said she wished she could swap places with her son, who had just started an apprenticeship at Western Power.

“There’s a moment where you instantly grieve what his life was gonna be,” she said.

Despite the long road to recovery, possible surgeries and countless hours of rehabilitation, Camden said his friend would “get through this”.

“He’s extremely stubborn,” he said.

“He won’t let that stop him, so he’ll 100 per cent get through this.”

Originally published as ‘Started screaming’: Mum’s warning after teen son paralysed after diving into sandbar