Matthew Haylett broke his neck diving into the water on Saturday, unaware there was a sandbank.

His mum, Megan Larson, spoke out today in the hope of raising awareness.

Haylett is in intensive care at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), currently paralysed from the neck down and struggling to breathe.

“There’s always hope in any situation,” Larson said.

Haylett’s hero mate, Camden Atfield, was in the water at the time of the accident and rushed to save him.

“I didn’t see him for like five seconds and I was just wondering if he was OK and then obviously when the waves came back he just started screaming,” Atfield recalled.

A tearful Larson credits Atfield for her son still being with them.

“You saved his life, you know,” she told him.

Doctors say the initial moments after spinal injury are crucial.

What we’d recommend is that if you suspect someone’s got quite a significant injury to their neck is that you try to minimise how much you move them,” RPH trauma surgeon Dr Jeni Thomas told 9News.

Matthew had just started a Western Power apprenticeship but now, he’s facing an uncertain future with up to 12 months in hospital on a long road to recovery.

“There’s a moment where you instantly grieve what his life was gonna be,” Larson said.

“I just wanted to take his place.”

Larson is urging other beachgoers to take extra caution and know more about their favourite swim spots.

“Mullaloo apparently is well known for the fact that it has got really shallow parts in it, and Scarborough’s the same,” she said.

The 17-year-old won’t have surgery straight away as doctors allow time for the swelling to come down.

Following an MRI scan next week, they’ll determine his next steps but Matthew is determined to walk again.

“He’s extremely stubborn, he won’t let that stop him so he’ll 100 per cent get through this,” Atfield said.

In the meantime, the family’s set up a fundraiser to help pay his medical costs.