Teenager paralyzed after ‘crazy accident’ after jumping into pool

DALLAS, Texas – A North Texas teenager who was paralyzed after jumping into a pool to avoid a wasp is still recovering in the hospital.

On June 20, 13-year-old Semyon Williams Jr., or SJ as his family calls him, suffered a fractured spine after jumping into a pool.

“It just makes me sad … because he is so young,” said his mother, Anya Camper.

Camper said her son was spending time with friends at a swimming pool in Frisco when he jumped into the water to escape a wasp.

She said he jumped in headfirst and his friends had to go after him when he didn’t resurface. Anya said her son was conscious the whole time.

“He said I thought I was going to die. He said I thought I was going to drown,” his mother said.

Before the accident, she described her son as a child who loved being around people. He played soccer and enjoyed swimming. It’s hard for her to see her son lying in bed and not being able to do the things he loves. He loved spending time with his brothers.

Anya said SJ recently had surgery at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas to repair some of the broken bones in his neck. Next, he will need months of rehab.

“It just makes me sad because he’s still so young,” said his mother. “You just don’t expect something like this to end up on your doorstep.”

SJ’s grandfather, Louis Camper, said that SJ is already showing some small progress. He can move his fingers slightly.

“This is not something to dream about. We are confident about what is to come,” he said.

Anya said she wants other parents and children to remember her son’s accident when they are near water.

“Take this opportunity to realize that anything can happen,” Anya said.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with unexpected medical bills.