BURLINGTON, NC. (THECOUNT) — Andrew Hartle, a popular senior at The Burlington School, in Greenwood Terrace, Burlington, NC,, was paralysed and left breathing with help of ventilator following a tragic diving accident while attending his Senior Trip in Puerto Rico.
Hartle, a college bound STAR competitive swimmer, talented musician and current Burlington class president, was left with no movement from the waist down after diving in the ocean and striking his head on a rock while on the trip in Puerto Rico.
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Thankfully, the young man has regained some feeling and motion in his arms, but he is still breathing with the assistance of a ventilator. Andrew’s father, Jeremy, recently posted on his Facebook page,
“Getting better! Andrew in good spirits and feeling better. Sitting up and watching TV. Starting some light physical therapy today. Lungs a little better today. Still breathing with help of ventilator but hope to start weaning over the next days.” source
Hartle injured his C3, C4, C5 and has no feeling from the chest down. He recently underwent 12 hours of surgery in September.
You can’t keep a good man down. Hartle is reportedly sitting up now and even engaging with schoolmates on social media. The picture below depicts his father taking a photo of the young man for his GoFundMe page which has raised over $30,000.
Family and friends are now rallying around Hartle, his family contantanty by his side at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.