Tragedy after tragedy: Australian chef, 21, breaks his neck and may never walk again after horror accident while spreading his teenage brother's ashes in South Africa
- Gareth Flanagan travelled to South Africa on Anzac Day with family and fiance
- The 21-year-old went to say goodbye to his 18-year-old brother who passed away
- Mr Flanagan was staying at family holiday home with fiancee Leisha Galluccio
- He dived into a river, hit a rock and broke his neck and may never walk again
An Australian chef has broken his neck in a horror accident while spreading his teenage brother's ashes in South Africa.
Gareth Flanagan, 21, travelled to Kleinmond, a town south of Cape Town, with family on Anzac Day to say goodbye to his 18-year-old brother Conor who passed away last year.
The 21-year-old and his fiancée Leisha Galluccio were staying at a family holiday home when he dived into a river and hit a rock.
Mr Flanagan and his fiancée Leisha Galluccio were staying at a family holiday home when he dived into a river and hit a rock (pictured is Mr Flanagan and Ms Galluccio)
Mr Flanagan, who works at his parents cafe in South Australia, had decided to jump back into the water after going in for a quick swim.
'I kind of saw him kind of bounce back up. A few seconds passed and he popped up and yelled 'help.' Ms Galluccio told Nine News.
'His dad dragged him to the rock he jumped from, and that's when Gareth told him; "I can't feel my legs."
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Ms Galluccio said she tried to get help from motorists driving on the road because there was no phone reception.
Mr Flanagan, who suffers from epilepsy, thought he was going to die after waiting an hour for emergency services to arrive.
They had to swim across the river with him on a spinal board to get him out of the water before taking him to a local hospital.
Doctors confirmed the 21-year-old had a broken neck and told him there is a high possibility he may never be able to walk again (pictured Mr Flanagan in hospital)
Ms Galluccio said Mr Flanagan has started to get reflexes back in his feet (pictured is Mr Flanagan and Ms Galluccio)
Doctors at the hospital confirmed Mr Flanagan had a broken neck and told him there is a high possibility he may never be able to walk again.
He is currently paralysed from the waist down and has blood bruising and swelling on his spine.
One of his lungs has also collapsed as a result of an infection and he was put on a ventilator under sedation.
Ms Galluccio, who is on her first overseas trip, said Mr Flanagan has started to get reflexes back in his feet.
'His getting more positive and looking forward to going back to Australia,' she said.
Mr Flanagan is currently undergoing treatment in South Africa but his family are hoping to fly him back to Australia when he is well enough to continue rehab.
Gareth Flanagan (pictured) travelled to South Africa with his family and fiance to say goodbye to his 18-year-old brother Conor, who passed away last year
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