A topless women-only fundraiser swim took place today in order to raise money for a young Dublin man who was injured in a freak accident in Mexico.
Matt Murphy, 26, from Skerries, suffered a severe spinal-chord injury while on a boat tour off the coast of Cancun last summer when he dived into the water and hit a shallow sandbank.
He fractured his C5 vertebrae and underwent emergency spinal surgery which has kept his spinal cord intact. He is currently receiving treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire but has limited function in his arms, with no control of his triceps, hands or lower body.
READ MORE: Family's appeal to help 'determined warrior' teen get home after life-changing horror crash
The ‘Bob Your Boobs for Matt’ swim asked women to go topless in the sea for two minutes and was set to take place at a private seaside location in north Dublin on Friday.
The Go Fund Me page for the event reads: "On the 15th of April, make it a really GOOD Friday by helping our amazing pal Matt walk again by bobbing your boobs in the Irish sea. 2 minutes of blushes will help make a lifetime of a difference.
"For all those Mothers, sisters and friends of Matthew who have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing him grow up to be the most amazing, fun and generous young man that he is, please join in by raising funds to help him walk again."
The fundraising page explains that "there is hope" that Matt could walk again as his spinal cord is intact.
However, in order to get Matt the "best available treatment", his friends and family are continuing to raise funds towards the goal of sending him to a specialist centre outside of Ireland - which would cost over €100,000.
The fundraising page reads: "Matt is the most kind, adventurous, fun-loving character. A great man for a party who lights up every room. For those who know him, he can be a little stubborn and opinionated, but he always makes it his mission to bring happiness to everyone he meets. Being an avid traveller he had decided to go to Mexico to volunteer at a coral reef restoration project and finish his trip with a Yoga instructor course.
"He has since been repatriated to Ireland where he was initially treated at the ICU & spinal units in the Mater Hospital and is continuing his treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH). Both the staff at the Mater, and the doctors, nurses and therapists at the NRH have been amazing. Although he has limited bodily functions, Matt has been making slow progress and is determined to get these back. His positivity has been unshaken throughout.
"Time is valuable! The first 12 months of paralysis are monumental to getting body functions back. In order for Matt to recover we need to adopt a more aggressive treatment regime than is possible in Ireland at this time. We are currently in the process of applying for specialist treatment centres including stem cell, exo-skeleton and bio-electric treatments.
"While the family are taking care of his immediate care and adaptations to his home, our aim is to get Matt the best available treatment and eventually back to his feet. At this time we do not have an exact cost as it would depend on the treatment centre but they are normally well in excess of €100,000."
The page asked people to donate to the cause saying that "Matt will never give up hope". You can donate here.
READ MORE: 'Smiling' boy's world shattered by devastating death of his mother from cancer at 38
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