Brit preventing for all times after diving into Marbella sea and ‘not coming again up’
Ardi Balliu, 27, from Northampton, was on a Marbella holiday when he and a friend headed to beauty spot Calo d’es Moro in Santanyi, Mallorca — he dived into the water and did not come back up
Ardi Balliu, from Northampton, was just days into his Marbella holiday when the horror unfolded(Image: Supplied)
A man known as the ‘life of any party’ has been left paralysed after breaking his spine when he dived into the sea on holiday and failed to resurface.
Ardi Balliu, from Northampton, was just days into his Marbella holiday on Spain’s Costa Del Sol when he and a mate decided to visit the picturesque Calo d’es Moro in Santanyi. The stunning cove is a hit with tourists thanks to its crystal-clear waters and golden beaches.
However, when Ardi plunged head-first into the water, his friend was left in a state of panic when the 27-year-old didn’t come back up. Crying out for assistance, he pleaded with strangers for help as other bathers helped lift him and carry the stricken man to the beach.
Ardi informed the group he couldn’t feel his legs as he lay on the sand before being airlifted to hospital.
The construction worker is now battling for his life while his distraught family scramble to raise funds to bring him home. An astonishing £34,000 has already been donated as his terrified cousin Ingrid Kaca reveals he faces a long journey ahead, reports the Mirror.
She told the Mirror: “He is currently in a critical state, he is on life support as he is unable to breathe by himself. We have been told that he is going to never be able to walk again and with a high chance that he will be fully paralysed. He is currently on a lot of medication, and is still unconscious.
“Ardi dived into the water head-first and did not come back up. His mate who was with him called for help from people nearby, they assisted him out and he was then rescued by an air ambulance. He fractured his C1 vertebrae and four other parts of his spine.
“Loads of family members and mates have travelled over to Mallorca to be at the hospital by Ardi’s side. It is a shock, he is 27 and active, everyone is extremely worried – we are devastated. Words can’t describe how heartbroken everyone is.
“He is an amazing and loving individual – a supportive mate and family member. Ardi loves to travel and explore different places and loves to have fun. He is the life of the party, he loves his fitness and is such caring and genuine person. We’re heartbroken and so so worried.”
Monday’s tragic accident has left the family grappling with an uncertain future as they adjust to their new reality. Acknowledging that he may need round-the-clock care possibly for the rest of his life, they are in need of support as they try to get him back to Northamptonshire.
“There has been little to no improvement in the past few days,” Ingrid added. “The doctors have said that they are going to wait for his drugs to leave his body and then they will be able to assess how much he can breathe alone and whether he is able to undergo surgery where they will insert a tube which will assist his breathing.
“However they are unsure if they are able to undergo the surgery until they know if he is able to breathe without the support. I have not flown out, but my parents have flown out as have a lot of other family members. I am getting live updates from my parents and his mum, my aunt, who is out there.
“We have taken the decision to raise funds on GoFundMe and the response has so far been incredible. The money will be to help with the medical bills as they will need to transport him to the UK. The funds will also support future care such as home adaptation. It will also relieve the financial stress on the family so they can focus entirely on being by Ardi’s side.”
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