Well, I’m going to die
On 12 June, Danish-Norwegian Sebastian Kronstad (24) went swimming with friends in Thailand. He had been in the country since the end of January to train in martial arts, when some friends had made the trip to visit him.
They went to the beach, and while the friends relaxed on the beach, Kronstad decided that he wanted to take a bath. That dip was to turn out to change the life of the 24-year-old.
– I hadn’t realized that it was too deep. In the transition, where it became deep, there were some large stones. These were hidden by the water and I ran out with my dog. When it got deep I threw myself against a wave. I hit a big rock head first.
It was Telemark newspaper who mentioned the accident to Kronstad first.
Salute to the friend
– Everything turned gray at once. I tried everything I could to move my arms and legs, but through the water it was quite clear that they were lifeless.
The 24-year-old immediately understood that he had become paralyzed.
– When I understood that, I thought: Well, I’m going to die. Fortunately, it was a friend who saw too much and pulled me out.
Kronstad estimates that he was under the water for approximately 15 seconds. Well, he pays tribute to his friend Mads Engeset for surviving.
– If he hadn’t been around, I would have pressed the net. It was too far for those on shore, so they had not noticed the accident in time.
THE GROUP OF FRIENDS: Before the group of friends traveled home from Thailand, Sebastian visited the hospital. Photo: Private
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– The phone you don’t want to get
In Denmark, Sebastian’s father, Rune, was placed and enjoyed a better lunch on the terrace. They had been visited by the family from Norway. Then call the phone. It was Sebastian’s cousin.
– Even before I answered I got the feeling that something was wrong. I knew he was with my son.
He describes the conversation as a phone call no parent wants to receive.
– Words cannot describe the next few seconds, minutes, hours and days, says the father.
![Injury in fall accident Injury in fall accident](https://www.dagbladet.no/images/76491986.jpg?imageId=76491986&x=0&y=20.982142857143&cropw=100&croph=31.696428571429&width=980&height=559)
Injury in fall accident
He also praises his son for the way he kept his composure during the first conversation.
– I tried to appear calm and composed, but I didn’t feel that way inside, Rune replies.
Sebastian remembers pointing out that he had forgotten Mother’s Day.
– When I was lying there, I had a bad conscience because I hadn’t sent her a flower a few weeks ago, he says.
– Complete chaos
The first conversation between father and son took place while Sebastian was lying on a sunbed that had been lifted onto the loading platform of a pick-up truck.
The makeshift ambulance took the 24-year-old to a local hospital. He describes the situation there as complete chaos.
![«AMBULANCE»: This pickup took Sebastian from the beach to the first hospital. Photo: Private «AMBULANCE»: This pickup took Sebastian from the beach to the first hospital. Photo: Private](https://www.dagbladet.no/images/76709736.jpg?imageId=76709736&width=980&height=559)
«AMBULANCE»: This pickup took Sebastian from the beach to the first hospital. Photo: Private
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– I thought my travel insurance was valid until I was going home, but it had expired a few days earlier. I had to have information sent to a credit card, but after a short time we found out that I also had travel insurance through the home insurance. It made everything much easier.
Hours later, the trip went to Phuket, where Kronstad underwent emergency neck surgery. Seven days later, the trip went by air ambulance to Copenhagen. There he stayed for two weeks in the intensive care unit before he had to undergo another neck operation.
Happy reunion
Both father and son say that it was a special experience to see each other again after the incident. Sebastian himself says that it was a great relief to come home to Denmark.
![OFTEN VISITING: Sebastian's parents visit their son almost daily at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. Photo: Private OFTEN VISITING: Sebastian's parents visit their son almost daily at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. Photo: Private](https://www.dagbladet.no/images/76709769.jpg?imageId=76709769&width=980&height=559)
OFTEN VISITING: Sebastian’s parents visit their son almost daily at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. Photo: Private
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– In Thailand, I could only communicate with the family by phone. Back home in Denmark, someone was with me all the time. It was so much love, says Sebastian.
The father agrees.
– We have never met such hot and burning eyes as when he looked at us for the first time. In those seconds, two eyes saw much, much more than words can express, he says.
Assessing alternative treatment
It has reached the past six weeks since the accident took place. It is not certain that Kronstad will be able to walk again, but he is nevertheless optimistic about the future.
– Who knows what training and other miracles can do. I am grateful that I am alive and have a hope that it will not stop where I am now.
![ACTIVE: Before the accident, Sebastian was a very active person. Photo: Private ACTIVE: Before the accident, Sebastian was a very active person. Photo: Private](https://www.dagbladet.no/images/76709715.jpg?imageId=76709715&x=0&y=0&cropw=100&croph=76.116504854369&width=688&height=393)
ACTIVE: Before the accident, Sebastian was a very active person. Photo: Private
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Following the incident, the 24-year-old’s aunt has started a Spleis campaign to help Kronstad return to as normal a life as possible. The money will go towards different treatment alternatives.
At the time of writing, over DKK 144,000 has been received.
– Among other things, I am currently investigating stem cell treatment in Panama, says Sebastian.
He says that there is no research into how effective this is before such treatments are offered in the Nordics.
– But I think that if it’s just a small chance to get a little more functionality, it’s worth trying. I think most people in my situation would also think so.