Lifeguard, 19, Recovering from Spinal Injuries After Saving Drowning 7-Year-Old: ‘I Would Do It Again’

12 Oaks Country Club lifeguard Youssef Bounagui hit his head on concrete when jumping into the pool to rescue a young swimmer

A lifeguard at a Holly Springs, N.C. country club is recovering after suffering spinal injuries while saving a boy from drowning.

Youssef Bounagui, 19, who works at the 12 Oaks Country Club pool, saved a 7-year-old boy from drowning, but slipped and hit his head on concrete when jumping into the pool, according to local news outlet WRAL.

As a result, the lifeguard, who had been filling in at the country club on Wednesday, July 17, suffered a spinal cord injury, head trauma and lost several teeth.

Even though the lifeguard has a long road to recovery, Bounagui was able to save the child in the pool after swimming out to get him.

“The last thing I remember is being in the trauma room with 20 doctors, and I’m asking, ‘What happened? What happened?’ " Bounagui told WRAL about his incident. After injuring himself, he still completed the rescue.

“The kid was still drowning, so I swam 20 meters to get him,” he continued. “I got him out, [that] is what everyone has been telling me.” When he got out of the pool, Bounagui said he "passed out."

He also spoke about how his fellow lifeguard, Sean Donovan. rescued him.

“Me and the other guard cleared the pool and grabbed a backboard. I did what I was trained to do by the Red Cross,” Donovan, who had known Bounagui since freshman year of high school, told WRAL.

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in an interview with ABC 11, Bounagui said his injuries were worth the rescue at the pool. “Even though I’m not able to walk, I'm glad I got that kid out safely,” he added, as per WRAL. “And, honestly, I would do it again.”

"I would do it a thousand times. You know, you put me in a situation again. I'm going to do it. Even if you were to tell me I'm going to get hurt, you know, I'm still going to do it.," Bounagui, who hopes to meet the 7-year-old he saved, told ABC 11.

He also gave an update on his current recovery. "I'm not able to stand, walk. I can't move. My legs are troublesome... they're very, very weak," he said. "But at least I can move them a little bit, which is a little bit motivating to us, but, you know."

News outlet WCAX reported that Bounagui's father is "so proud of him" and that the support of the 19-year-old's family keeps him motivated as he recovers.

PEOPLE reached out to the Holly Springs Police Department, but they did not immediately respond.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Youssef and his family while he is recovering and unable to work, with the page noting "he cannot walk at this moment and will have to relearn to do so."

"He can’t do basic things like eat, shower, etc. Due to the head trauma, he is also missing some teeth," the GoFundMe page's description further explained.

As of publishing, over $17,000 has been raised, more than tripling the $5,000 goal.

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