The family of a 24-year-old from Carnforth who broke his neck diving into a swimming pool in Turkey have thanked the public after more than £150,000 was raised to bring him home.
Will Ponter was flown back to the UK on September 13 in a specialist air ambulance arranged by charity Lia’s Wings.
He suffered the devastating injury on September 3, during the final night of a holiday in Turkey, and underwent emergency surgery lasting 13 hours.
Will is now being treated at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary after his family launched a GoFundMe appeal to cover his medical care and repatriation costs.
The £150,000 target was reached in less than two weeks, with supporters organising tractor runs, music nights and even beard-shaving events to raise money.
Will's girlfriend, Becky Francey, 27, told the BBC that the response had "really restored my faith in humanity".
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She said: "It's just so kind and unbelievable. So many people have reached out to me, people who went to school with Will or worked with him, or just strangers saying our story has touched them."
Doctors in Antalya told Will's family that he is likely to be paralysed from the neck down.
Becky had to jump into the pool to help Will after the accident before he was taken to hospital.
The family has also thanked two German men who gave them £4,000 towards Will's emergency treatment in Turkey.
A fundraising update posted on September 17 said Will had remained sedated for more than 10 days, but was becoming more stable.
His family have been encouraged to put pictures of friends and relatives around his hospital room so he will be surrounded by familiar faces when he wakes.
Will's mother, Rebecca, said: "The most amazing part is how much love and support has been extended from across the globe."
The family said the money raised so far has covered Will's flight home and his intensive care treatment in Turkey.
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