Kind strangers help man who broke neck return to UK

A man who broke his neck while diving into a swimming pool in Turkey is back in the UK thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Will Ponter, from Carnforth in Lancashire, underwent a 13-hour emergency surgery in Antalya, and doctors said the 24-year-old would be paralysed from the neck down.

He is now being treated at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary after more than £150,000 was donated to help cover medical costs and bring him home.

His girlfriend Becky Francey said everyone who donated "really restored my faith in humanity".

"There's a lot of waiting around involved in trying to get someone repatriated," the 27-year-old said, but together with Will's parents they "were reading all the names of everybody [who donated]".

"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, has really been a comfort in a very, very difficult time," she said.

The family also managed to track down and reimburse two German men who gave them the 4,000 euros needed for an operation when they were in Turkey.

"They've kept in contact and wanted updates on Will," Becky said.

"They were just two of the most amazing men I've ever met, they were so kind.

"We hadn't met around the hotel but they didn't want to leave me alone at the hospital and came and held my hand, they were so sweet."

She said Will is stable in hospital in Lancaster after "a really long 10 days trying to get him back" and will be transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital for further treatment.

"The visiting hours are better here so we can see him a lot more which is really nice, difficult but nice," she said.

The family still "don't know" what the future holds until he is no longer sedated and comes off ventilation so "they can assess the damage he's done".

"The doctors at Lancaster are amazing at keeping us informed," Becky said.

"Now we can just concentrate on letting the doctors do what they need to do."

She said it is "definitely a relief" to be back in England, but "it's also tough being home, I haven't spent much time at our house because he's not there".

"While he's intubated he can't talk to me and I miss him so much."

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