School pool dive leaves Hawke's Bay girl, 11, tetraplegic

Tiyarah Royal Sciascia, 11, suffered a broken neck, shattered three cervical vertebrae after diving into Porangahau School swimming pool. Photo / Supplied

An enthusiastic dive into a school swimming pool has likely changed Tiyarah (Royal) Sciascia's life forever.

As her head hit the bottom of the Porangahau School pool during school hours, it soon became clear the "happy go lucky" girl was in serious trouble.

The 11-year-old was airlifted from school to Hawke's Bay Hospital after the February 10 incident.

Her family was informed she had suffered a broken neck, shattered three cervical vertebrae resulting in a severe spinal cord injury and may never walk again.

She was then transported to Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital and underwent two six-hour surgeries on her neck.

After spending three weeks in intensive care, Tiyarah was diagnosed with C6 incomplete tetraplegia – the most severe of all spinal cord injury levels – leaving her requiring intensive physical, occupational and breathing therapy.

Tiyarah's aunty Renee Sciascia said her niece was a "social butterfly" who loved kapa haka, dancing, playing guitar, singing, drawing and playing video games.

Tiyarah pictured before the accident. Photo / Supplied

"She was very theatrical, active and bubbly – and not your average 11-year-old," she said.

"She's that one girl who always makes sure no one is ever left out. Her kind heart never fails, without a doubt she is always there to help anyone who needs it.

"We don't know what the future holds. At this stage she won't be able to do what she normally does anytime soon, but with a lot of hard work we are hoping she can get the top half of her body mobile again."

Sciascia said Tiyarah battles the pain every day in an attempt to regain movement.

"Initially she couldn't move anything from neck down, but with hard work she's regained some movement in her fingers and is able to lift her arms.

"Her recovery is slow and painful; she is currently in rehab in Auckland and it's unknown how long she will be there for."

A Givealittle page, which has had more than $19,500 donated to it, was set up to raise funds to help support the family with travel and accommodation expenses while Tiyarah undertakes months of therapy in Auckland.

Pōrangahau School principal Julie Scandrett and presiding member of the board of trustees Orlando MacDonald said Tiyarah is a "well-loved member" of the school's whanau.

Scandrett said the school is currently taking guidance from the whanau as to how they can help at this time.

"School staff, board of trustees and tamariki send their aroha and best wishes," she said. "Please be assured Pōrangahau School hold tamariki safety and wellbeing as paramount.

"We are assisting WorkSafe with their investigation of the accident and following their advice and that of the Ministry of Education."

Tiyarah fractured her cervical vertebrae from C4 to C7. Photo / Supplied

Data suggests Tiyarah's situation is not unique.

Over the past five years, children in NZ aged between 10 and 14 have suffered 16,288 water-related injuries, the most of any age category, which works out as an average of nine per day nationwide, according to ACC data.

ACC's Water Skills for Life programme launched in 2017 is aimed primarily at primary school and intermediate kids aged between five and 13.

Water Safety NZ strategic partnerships and communications manager Sheridan Bruce said the programme teaches kids how to have fun, while keeping themselves safe around water.

"Knowing how to swim is not enough."

The programme teaches other water safety and survival skills including how to float, getting into a huddle position if you're with a group, lifejacket use and how to tread water.

In 2020, ACC helped more than 200,000 children learn critical water safety skills, with 757,242 tamariki completing the programme since July 2017.

In the past five years, there have been 5434 water-related injuries in Hawke's Bay.
These incidents cost ACC more than $10 million to help people recover.

Across the Hawke's Bay region, there were 781 water-related injury claims in 2020, which came at a cost of $2.1m - the highest in the past four years.

Tiyarah has been told she may never walk again. Photo / Supplied

ACC injury prevention leader Kirsten Malpas said a large majority are avoidable.

"Most injuries can be prevented by simply slowing down, stopping to assess the risks, and pacing yourself."

Across New Zealand, the most dangerous activities for water-related injuries in 2020 were swimming (5867 claims), surfing (5498), fishing (3756) and accidents in and around swimming pools (1371).