A 20-year-old man was paralyzed Saturday evening after he dove into Lake Mendota and hit his head on the bottom, according to a Madison Police Department incident report.
The victim, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, was swimming near the lakefront on the 600 block of North Francis Street when the incident occurred, MPD Lt. Eric Tripke wrote in the report.
Investigators estimate the water where the victim struck the bottom of the lake was approximately five feet deep, according to the report. After the victim hit his head, witnesses stated that he was able to float to the surface and yell for help from the shore.
His friends then pulled him from the water, simultaneously attempting to support and stabilize his neck.
Medical officials at the hospital admitted the victim, and reported to Madison police the man had a spinal injury that caused the paralysis.
