“I remember laying face down in the pool and not being able to move,” he said.

“But the actual injury itself, I don’t remember much of.”

The Border footballer and water polo player suffered a severe spinal cord injury when he dived into a pool at his own 21st birthday party on January 7. He was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital for surgery and then spent several weeks at the Austin Hospital.

On Monday Nick began the next stage of his treatment at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Kew, where he’s expected to stay about six months. The same day, members of the Ovens and Murray Water Polo Association announced an open water swim, Dip for Dempsey, on March 3 to raise money for one of their own.

Nick’s father Peter said his son was going as well as could be expected.

“They don’t give a diagnosis, they don’t say he’ll be X, Y or Z,” Mr Dempsey said.

“They just say time, everyone heals different, he’s fit, he’s young. His attitude’s amazing, inspirational really, so he’ll be fine.”

Nick said he remembered being in intensive care and the tube down his throat.

“I just hated that tube,” he said. “They kept telling me you’ve got to wait a couple more days to take it out, eventually I just said no to them, just take it out.”

His spinal cord was still swollen, but some movement had returned.

“My left arm’s come back pretty good with my bicep, I’ve had that since pretty early, it’s got a lot stronger, which is good,” he said.

“And now my right bicep’s starting to wake up a little bit, which is great, have a bit of a flicker in it.”

When Nick began sitting up in a chair, the effort would soon tire him out but that too had become easier.

“You don’t really realise that you’re making progress with that kind of thing, then you look back,” he said.

But looking forward now occupies Nick more; in a Facebook post he thanked everyone for their support

“I am determined to recover as much as possible, it won’t be quick, but hey ... we ain’t got nothin’ but time,” he said.

THE DEMPSEYS feel humbled by the community support they’ve received since Nick’s spinal injury last month.

Nick’s parents Peter and Trudy and brothers Mitch and Rhys thanked everyone and welcomed the Ovens and Murray Water Polo Association’s Dip for Dempsey on March 3. The event will include a 1500 metre open swim and a shorter under-14 race at the Albury Wodonga Yacht Club, Bonegilla.

“The water polo in Albury-Wodonga has been a large part of Nick’s life and it’s terrific that they’re getting together because he will need help,” Mr Dempsey said.

The family knew Nick would need ongoing care as his rehabilitation continued.

“To tell you the truth it’s all new to us and we’re just learning about this as we go,” Mr Dempsey said. “It’s step by step with us and Nick and we always said that from the start. He’s determined, he will fight pretty hard and that’s what he’s going to do.”