By NICOLE VALICEK
PEOPLE in Hobsons Bay are being asked to think before they jump or dive from piers and jetties this summer with the risk of life-changing consequences.
Nazim Erdem was 20-years-old when he dived off an Elwood pier into shallow water in an effort to impress some nearby girls.
The dive resulted in a permanent spinal cord injury and left Nazim a quadriplegic for life.
“It was just a bit of fun with my mates but it’s changed my life forever. You’re aware that there are risks in life but I never thought jumping off a pier would result in an injury like this,” Nazim said.
After he jumped off the pier and hit the bottom, he realised that he could not move his whole body which meant he could not resurface.
Luckily he had been taught to hold his breath under water for up to three minutes.
“My mates thought I was mucking around so I was under water for nearly two and a half minutes before they realised something was wrong.”
Prior to his accident Nazim played Australian Rules Football and was an amateur boxer.
Following his accident, Nazim took up wheelchair rugby and competed successfully as a member of the Australian team including winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics.
Each year there are 350-400 new cases of spinal cord injuries reported and nine per cent of these are caused by water-related accidents.
Males aged 15-35 years are at the highest risk of acquiring a spinal cord injury, yet the most common causes of these – water/diving related activities and road accidents – are preventable.
Parks Victoria in conjunction with Independence Australia are reminding Victorians to think before they jump or dive from piers and jetties this summer to minimise the risk of spinal cord injury.
Parks Victoria district chief ranger, Graeme Davis said it is an extremely dangerous practice with the conditions at Altona Pier, for example, changing quite dramatically.
“The conditions are constantly changing and the consequences of jumping from a pier could result in a serious injury that will change your life forever.”
