The horrific cost of teenage lifeguard's incredible act of heroism

A teenage lifeguard saved a 7 year-old boy from drowning - but suffered a spinal wounded and tin nary longer locomotion arsenic a consequence of his heroism.  

Youssef Bounagui, who useful arsenic a excavation head astatine 12 Oaks Country Club successful Holly Springs, North Carolina, was filling successful for 1 of nan lifeguards past Wednesday erstwhile nan 17 year-old spotted a youngster struggling successful nan water, WTVD News reported. 

Without hestitation, nan selfless teen jumped into nan excavation redeeming nan young boy from drowning.

But during nan life-saving ngo suffered trauma to his caput and spine that resulted successful paralysis to his little limbs. He besides mislaid immoderate teeth.

The courageous teen said from his infirmary furniture that he does not regret his determination to prevention a life, and would do it again if he had excessively contempt nan agelong betterment ahead. It is unclear astatine this clip if Bounagui will locomotion again.  

'I would do it a 1000 times. If you put maine successful that business again, I'm going to do it. Even if you were to show maine I'm going to get hurt, I'm still going to do it,' said nan teen, who shared that he hopes to meet nan small boy he saved, 1 day.

Bounagui said aft rescuing nan small boy he doesn't retrieve very overmuch earlier he was saved by different lifeguard.

'I went into nan water. I sewage injured, deed my head, deed my legs beautiful bad. Even pinch that, I still swam to nan kid, and I sewage him out,' he said. 'Then, I passed retired aliases whatnot, and my lifeguard went and saved me.' 

Bounagui, who has a brace astir his neck, said he has troubling moving. 'I americium not capable to stand, walk. My legs is troublesome. They’re very, very weak,' he said. 

But, said he was emotion a spot inspired erstwhile he was starting to consciousness a driblet of activity successful his legs, that he called 'a little spot motivating to us.'

The teen hopes 1 time to go a firefighter successful Raleigh, NC, a dream that he has had since childhood. 

He shared that 1 of his goals is 'to thief others, and his begetter expressed really 'proud' he was of his son. 

To thief successful his recovery, friends Emily Byrnes and Erin Bircher organized a GoFundMe.

'Hello everyone, arsenic you whitethorn cognize our bully friend and fabulous 12 Oaks excavation manager, Youssef, has suffered from galore injuries owed to trying to prevention a kid successful distress,' nan station read.

'Thinking accelerated connected his feet and putting nan child’s information earlier his ain resulted successful him getting terrible trauma injuries. He loves his occupation and would do it a 1000 times over, that’s why we emotion him truthful much. He cares truthful overmuch for this organization and I cognize we would emotion to springiness back.

'Currently, he is treatment from encephalon and spinal trauma that led to a mild concussion and spinal cord swelling. He cannot locomotion astatine this infinitesimal and will person to relearn to do so. He can’t do basal things for illustration eat, shower, etc. Due to nan caput trauma, he is besides missing immoderate teeth.

'As of correct now, I’m asking connected behalf of his family that we commencement this backing page. Due to circumstances he will beryllium retired of a occupation and we are asking you donate to support his family during this time,' nan station read, successful part.

As of Monday day much than $17,000 has been raised - tripling their first magnitude of $5,000. 

The young man who shares nan value of giving backmost and really vulnerable life is  had a connection for nan small boy.

'Look backmost astatine this infinitesimal and deliberation of it arsenic a blessing and support staying positive,' he said. ' I want him to return nan favour someday and thief personification other successful need.'

DailyMail.com reached retired to nan 12 Oaks Country Club.