Ex-Army hero dad, 41, paralysed for life after slipping in paddling pool tragedy
A dad-of-two bodybuilding soldier was paralysed from the neck down in a freak paddling pool accident.
Simon Cooper, 41, is thought to have slipped on wet grass and fallen into the paddling pool at his sister-in-law's garden in Gosport, Hampshire, on May 29.
Simon was pulled from the pool and rushed to hospital, where X-rays showed he had broken a bone in his neck, severed his spinal cord and fractured his skull.
The dad-of-two, from Chippenham in Wiltshire, was put on a ventilator and, at one point, a life support machine.
His devastated family have been told Simon, who has served 20 years in the British Army, will be paralysed from the neck down for life.
His brother Mike, 43, who lives in Tonna, Neath Port Talbot, said: "He's such an active guy and he's done a lot in the military, serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia.
"He's also spent most of his life as an active body builder where he competed in strongman competitions.
"So for something like this to happen - a freak accident - it's tough to take."
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, only Simon's wife Leanne and his two children, aged 16 and 18, have been able to visit him in Southampton General Hospital.
Mike, who has served in the Navy, added: "That first weekend was terrible for all the family.
"He has this big body builder look and tattoos, but he's the loveliest guy.
"Luckily we have been told that there is no brain damage, but he's still only able to groan and mumble as he has a tube down his throat.
"He's able to move his head and shoulders – and give us a smile."
Simon's home will now need to be adapted.
A GoFundMe page set up by Mike to help pay for the home modifications has raised £16,700 so far.