It’s been nearly two years since William Montpetit’s accident when the 21-year-old broke his C5 and C6 vertebrae after he dove into a swimming pool.
Doctors told him he’d never be able to walk again, but he says he’s getting stronger everyday.
“Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, but you just have to go day by day,” said Montpetit.
On Sunday, Laval police said a 41-year-old man died after diving into the shallow end of a residential swimming pool.
According to the Quebec lifesaving society, there are on average, about 10 diving accidents a year in Quebec that result in either injury or death. And in most cases, the victims are men.
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A doctor with Sacré-Coeur hospital says though deaths don’t happen often, the injuries that can arise from a bad dive are life changing
“These patients often have spinal cord injuries, cervical spinal cord injuries, they’re quadriplegic, so they’re paralyzed from the neck down.” said Dr. Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong, orthopedic surgeon at Sacré-Cœur hospital.
Now quadriplegic, Montpetit says he regrets diving carelessly that day, and it saddens him to hear accidents like his are still occurring.
“Just go feet first. You can have so much fun by just playing, but be safe. Try to be careful and try to think before acting,” he said.
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Hawkins advises following simple rules like ensuring the depth of the water is twice your height. He adds to also never go head first in above ground pools, shallow ends or lakes.
“Diving is a very good sport, a very good activity, but you need to make sure your facility is acceptable to practice this activity,” he said.
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