LISTEN: Kindness has been overwhelming after Carnforth man's horrific swimming pool accident

Will Ponter

The girlfriend of a Carnforth man who suffered a broken neck in a swimming pool accident on holiday said she has been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers.

Becky Francey thanked everyone "from the bottom of my heart" who has given support and help since Will Ponter was injured while diving into a pool in Turkey earlier this month.

Will is now in intensive care in Royal Preston Hospital after being flown home on Sunday.

A doctor's prognosis in Turkey was that he will be paralysed from the neck down after the horrific accident which happened on the last day of his and Becky's holiday.

An appeal to 'Help Get Will Home' has raised more than £153,500 to help the BAE Systems worker.

Speaking to Beyond Radio on Thursday, Becky said she was "taking each day as they come" and "every day is a new challenge".

LISTEN to Becky Francey

"He's in the best possible place now," said Becky.

"We haven't been able to speak to his consultant yet to get a proper update on his recovery and what they think the full prognosis is going to be, so that's still a question we don't know the answer to yet.

"He's having some issues with his lungs and breathing at the moment. Before he can come off ventilators that needs to be addressed. We won't know until he's more awake."

Speaking about the support she, Will and their families have received, Becky said: "It's been so overwhelming.

"It really has helped lift our spirits in these really hard times. Just seeing all of the support is a reflection of how wonderful Will is as a person and how many people he's touched and just how many kind strangers there are out there as well.

"I just can't thank everyone enough for the support they've already given to him.

"He's larger than life, so funny, such a charming person. Everyone he meets, he leaves an impression on. He's so kind, lovely and loveable.

"This could happen to anybody. We were just on holiday and he jumped into the pool and just didn't come back to the surface.

"I had to jump in and pull him out and he was instantly paralysed from the neck down."

Becky spoke about the generosity of a man called Michael, from Germany, and his friend.

"When we went to the first hospital, one of the guests at the hotel came with me. He was so kind.

"He left and then an hour later he came back with his friend, he said he couldn't stop thinking about me being at the hospital on my own, and brought me some shoes because I'd just come from the pool.

"We couldn't get in the ambulance to go to the next hospital, unless we paid 8000 euros there and then. I had 4000 I could give.

"Michael just stepped in and paid the other 4000 euros and left me his number and his name, and the trust that I was going to give it back to him. I have found him now and paid him back, and kept him updated on how Will's progressing.

"People have been so kind, and all the messages I've received from strangers on social media wishing Will well, has been so heartwarming."

Will was flown home by UK aeroplane ambulance charity Lia's Wings.

Becky said their Chief Operating Officer, Charlotte Young, is "the most incredible woman I've ever met, she was just so on it and so reassuring, such an incredible lady".

Read more: Carnforth man who broke neck in swimming pool accident flown home after £150K appeal - Beyond Radio

Appeal to help bring Carnforth man home after tragic holiday swimming pool accident - Beyond Radio

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