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He lost consciousness while in the water.
“Giannis entered the water feeling secure,” recounted his cousin, Aristea Kazantzidou.
“The next moment, I saw him floating face down. None of us could have foreseen how rapidly the situation would turn dire.”
Kazantzidou swiftly pulled her cousin from the water as a beachgoer with medical expertise and lifesavers hurried to assist.
Paramedics soon arrived, administered emergency care, and quickly transported him to Royal Perth Hospital.
Vidiniotis had broken his collarbone and suffered catastrophic spinal injuries.
He is in the intensive care unit and unable to move his legs or close his hands, according to the Hellenic Community of Western Australia.
“Surgeons have advised that, due to the extent of his spinal injuries, Ioannis may be facing quadriplegia,” the organisation said on an online fundraising page.
Vidiniotis is expected to remain in hospital for another six to eight weeks and undergo a six-month rehabilitation program.
But surgeons have only given him a slim five per cent chance of regaining his ability to walk.
“This is the hardest reality for our family to face,” Kazantzidou said.
The community has rallied behind the young man, raising almost $200,000 to cover the costs of his medical treatment.