Perth teenager breaks neck in freak beach accident

A 17-year-old boy is in a critical condition after a freak accident at a beach in Perth’s northern suburbs left him with a broken neck.

Matthew Haylett dived headfirst into the water at Mullaloo Beach on Saturday, unaware there was a sandbank.

His friend, Camden Atfield, told 9 News Perth he had rushed into the water to rescue him.

“I didn’t see him for like five seconds and I was just wondering if he was OK and then … he just started screaming,” he said.

His mother, Megan Larson, spoke through tears, stating there was always hope for her son’s recovery and said Camden had saved his life.

“There’s an instant moment that you immediately grieve what his life was going to be. I just wanted to take his place,” she said.

“Mullaloo is apparently very well known for the fact that it is got really shallow parts in it, and Scarborough is the same.”

She called for others to be careful when swimming and to make sure it was safe before diving in.

Matthew, who had just started an apprenticeship with Western Power, remains in intensive care at Royal Perth Hospital and will not have surgery straight away, with doctors allowing time for the swelling to go down.