Perth teenager Matthew Haylett paralysed after diving into sandbar at Mullaloo Beach

A 17-year-old from Perth’s northern suburbs has been left instantly paralysed after breaking his neck in a freak ocean accident.

Matthew Haylett will spend the next 12 months in hospital after a trip to Mullaloo Beach with friends turned to tragedy last Saturday.

Mr Haylett was paralysed from the chest down after diving into a sandbar.

The teenager, who can’t breathe on his own, is being cared for in Royal Perth Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Mr Haylett’s friend Camden Atfield was swimming with him at the time and pulled him from the water.

“We both dived in together,” Mr Atfield told 7News.

“I think when the waves came back he just started screaming. He was completely paralysed. He was like, ‘I cannot move’.”

Mr Haylett’s mother Megan Larson said she was “eternally grateful” to Mr Atfield, who she said had saved her son’s life.

“The first thing he said to me, he’s like, ‘I’m OK, Mum, I’m good. Don’t be upset. I’m okay. I’m gonna be fine’,” Ms Larson said of her first interaction with her son after the incident.

“He’s so stubborn . . . they said to him, ‘Do you know buddy do you know what’s going on?’ He said, ‘I’m walking in six months!’”

Mr Haylett is facing years of rehabilitation and the possibility of surgery as soon as next week.

Ms Larson has launched a GoFund Me Page to assist with his recovery and wants all swimmers to be aware of the dangers of sandbars.

“I just want the best future for him, whatever that might look like,” Ms Larson said.

RPH general and trauma surgeon Dr Jeni Thomas said people helping someone suspected of having significant injury to their neck should avoid moving them as much as possible.

“Obviously you need to get them safe and keep yourself safe and make sure you call for help so that the emergency services,” she added.

Surf Lifesaving WA general manager Chris Peck said: “Make sure you assess those conditions and your own ability and as we say where there is a sandbar, there is likely to be waves, there is likely to be rips so it is more hazardous.”