British Electrician Faces Potential Paralysis After Pool Accident in Turkey

A 24-year-old British electrician suffered a severe spinal injury after diving into a swimming pool in Turkey just before the end of his vacation. Luke Punter and his partner Rebecca Francey arrived in Turkey on August 28. The accident occurred on September 3 when Punter repeatedly jumped into the pool. Francey watched from the edge before noticing he failed to resurface. She pulled him from the water after spotting him face down. His first words after the rescue were that he could not move.

Punter was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred for a complex 13-hour emergency surgery. He remains hospitalized in intensive care in Antalya, breathing on his own, though doctors warned the injury could leave him paralyzed from the neck down. His family subsequently discovered that their travel insurance policy does not cover the full extent of the medical expenses.

A fundraising campaign established by the family indicates that daily intensive care costs approximately $2,700, excluding medical evacuation, specialized equipment, and necessary home modifications. Punter's mother stated that medical repatriation costs remain uncertain, with initial estimates around $54,000, while the family campaign suggests medically escorted transport could reach $162,000.

Family members have traveled to Turkey to be by his side as coordination continues with British hospitals and insurers for his eventual return. The campaign describes the incident as a tragedy that altered the entire future of a young man in a single second.