He lost consciousness while swimming.

“Giannis entered the water with a sense of security,” recalled his cousin, Aristea Kazantzidou.

“Moments later, I saw him floating face down. None of us could have anticipated how rapidly the situation would deteriorate.”

Kazantzidou quickly retrieved her cousin from the water as a nearby beachgoer with medical expertise and available lifesavers rushed to assist.

Paramedics soon arrived, administering urgent care before transporting him to Royal Perth Hospital.

Vidiniotis sustained a broken collarbone along with severe spinal injuries.

He is in the intensive care unit and unable to move his legs or close his hands, according to the Hellenic Community of Western Australia. 

“Surgeons have advised that, due to the extent of his spinal injuries, Ioannis may be facing quadriplegia,” the organisation said on an online fundraising page.

Vidiniotis is expected to remain in hospital for another six to eight weeks and undergo a six-month rehabilitation program. 

But surgeons have only given him a slim five per cent chance of regaining his ability to walk.

“This is the hardest reality for our family to face,” Kazantzidou said.

The community has rallied behind the young man, raising almost $200,000 to cover the costs of his medical treatment.