A California high school student uttered seven heartbreaking words after realizing he he was paralyzed from a diving accident.
Amin Noroozi, 17, had been diving with friends at a beach when he hit his head, suffering a spinal injury that caused his paralysis, before telling his mother as he was pulled from the water, 'I don't want to be like this.'
Noroozi was airlifted to hospital from Stinson Beach in San Francisco on Sunday after he dove into the water without reemerging.
He lost feeling in his arms and legs due to his injuries, according to family friend Jane Smith.
'We're still in it. It's been less than 72 hours ago that this happened, so it's still fresh, it's still raw,' said Smith.
His mother, Ofelia, recalled her son's words to her following the accident.
'He said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what to do" ... and I said, "Don't jump to conclusions. Either way we'll figure it out,"' she told KTVU.
The high school football player has received a rally of support behind him from his friends and peers in the area.
Amin Noroozi, 17, had been diving with friends into the water before he jumped in and hit his head, suffering a spinal injury and paralyzing himself, as he told his mother, 'I don't want to be like this'
Noroozi was airlifted to hospital from Stinson Beach in San Francisco on Sunday after he dove into the water without reemerging. He lost feeling in his arms and legs due to his injuries
His mother, Ofelia Noroozi, recalled her son's words to her following the accident. 'He said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what to do. I don't want to be like this," and I said, "Don't jump to conclusions. Either way we'll figure it out"'
At a high school baseball game on Wednesday evening, Ofelia walked alone to the pitcher's mound at Acalanes High's baseball field.
At a high school baseball game on Wednesday evening, Ofelia walked alone to the pitcher's mound at Acalanes High's baseball field
She thought only of her son, who wasn't able to be there and cheer on his friends.
'You could touch the love. You could feel it. It was like a big hug that lifted me up and it was just like rocking me, like it'll be OK,' Ofelia said.
The high school principal, Eric Shawn, said: 'I think it's a testament to the real familial culture we have on our campus and in this community.'
A GoFundMe was started to help 'Amin and his family focus fully on recovery, not the rising medical bills that come with it.'
The community has also come together to help the family with bake and food sales at sporting events in Lafayette.
The fundraiser raised more than $133,000 toward its $251,000 goal as of Thursday morning, and the Noroozi family said they were 'overwhelmed - in the best way - by the outpouring of love and support from this incredibly community.'
Amin is described on the fundraiser as a 'caring son, the best big brother, a true friend, and a teammate you can count on.'
The fundraiser raised more than $133,000 toward the cause as of Thursday morning
'Amin is someone who leads with kindness and lives with heart... he's fighting, he's healing, and we believe - deeply- the brighter days are ahead,' the fundraiser said
The Noroozi family said they were 'overwhelmed - in the best way - by the outpouring of love and support from this incredibly community'
'Amin is someone who leads with kindness and lives with heart... he's fighting, he's healing, and we believe - deeply- the brighter days are ahead,' the fundraiser said.
But his friends are missing him, as a friend and teammate Joey Martin told the outlet: 'Hanging out with him that's what we're missing the most.
'We're all in for our Peer. Juniors show up and buy a shirt to support Amin,' the Instagram post said
'Like, when we get back to normal and we can just be with him, that's all we could ask for.'
Junior students at the high school have also created t-shirts to support their peer.
'We're all in for our Peer. Juniors show up and buy a shirt to support Amin,' the Instagram post said, with shirts being sold for $20.
The blue T-shirts say 'Team Amin' on the front and have his name and football number in a heart on the back.
His team and community have rallied to create cards for Amin and his family and are encouraging donations as well as help with a meal train for his family.
'As a community we will all rally around him and his family to show support, hope and strength for his journey towards full recovery,' another post said.
'Together we will remind Amin just how much he is loved.'
The GoFundMe added: 'Amin is at the start of a new journey - one powered by love, community, and a fierce belief in what's possible.'
