For Sharon Vasquez-Rochard, this Mother’s Day brings no quiet celebration—only a heavy heart, as she waits by the hospital bed of her 28-year-old son Christon Battersby, a Caribbean Airlines first officer who has remained on life support for nearly 14 months after a catastrophic diving accident. What began as a casual day out with friends in March 2025 turned into an ongoing battle for survival that has tested her family’s resilience, faith, and financial stability, prompting an urgent public appeal for support to access life-changing specialized care abroad.
The fateful accident unfolded on March 15, 2025, at Tobago’s popular Pigeon Point Heritage Park. Battersby, a resident of Maracas Valley, St. Joseph, was socializing with friends near the jetty when he dove into shallow water and struck his head against an unseen submerged object. He was pulled unconscious from the water immediately by on-duty lifeguards, who began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) right away. Two visiting tourists—Sarah Persson from Sweden and Anna Hospedales from Canada—stepped in to assist with ongoing resuscitation efforts, a moment captured in a widely circulated video that spread across local social media. By the time emergency responders arrived, Battersby had already suffered a broken neck, cardiac arrest, and near-drowning; his heart had stopped beating, he had no pulse, and he was not breathing. Yet the quick action of bystanders saved him long enough to reach care, and he was first transported to Scarborough General Hospital before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Port of Spain General Hospital, where he has remained ever since, dependent on a mechanical ventilator to breathe.
In the 14 months that have followed the accident, Vasquez-Rochard says the entire experience has been an unrelenting ordeal that has strained her family in every possible way. “Watching my son fight for his life after such a devastating diving accident in Tobago has been the most painful experience we have ever faced,” she shared in an interview with the *Sunday Express* ahead of this year’s Mother’s Day. Despite the overwhelming severity of his injuries and the emotional drain of more than a year in the ICU, Battersby has never stopped fighting. Vasquez-Rochard says he has already shown small but meaningful signs of progress that keep the family’s hope alive. He can eat normally, shrug his shoulders, and make small voluntary movements of his neck. He remains fully mentally alert, with unimpaired brain function, and is deeply engaged in his own recovery process. “He is fully mentally alert and aware, and very knowledgeable about what is happening to him. He is like a doctor right now,” his mother said.
Still, his condition remains extremely complex. Prolonged immobility has led to persistent nerve pain, frequent muscle spasms, and progressive muscle atrophy. The advanced, integrated neurological and physical rehabilitation he needs to make meaningful recovery is not available in any single local medical facility. Two specialized international centers—one in Panama and one in Colombia—have evaluated Battersby’s case and confirmed they can provide the comprehensive care he requires, including intensive physical therapy, respiratory rehabilitation, neurological therapy, and mobility training tailored specifically for high cervical spinal cord injuries. When factoring in treatment costs, travel, accommodation, medical equipment, and ongoing rehabilitation, the total price tag comes to more than US$400,000 (equivalent to roughly TT $2.72 million), a sum far beyond what Battersby’s family can cover on their own. Insurance coverage has not materialized as the family expected, forcing them to turn to public fundraising. Vasquez-Rochard launched a GoFundMe campaign, alongside a dedicated bank account for direct donations, to raise the required funds in time to begin treatment as soon as possible. “I believe timely, specialised care at an international institution can maximise his chances of recovery, independence and quality of life,” she said.
For the family, every small improvement is a milestone worth celebrating. Battersby has already been able to speak briefly through a tracheostomy valve, shown improvements in sensory function, and demonstrated consistent small neurological responses to stimulation. “These are small steps, but they give us hope,” Vasquez-Rochard said. “Every small improvement is a victory for us and a reminder that progress is still possible. With God’s grace and mercy, anything is possible through faith.”
This Mother’s Day marks 14 months since the accident, and Vasquez-Rochard acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, noting that the crisis has impacted her family emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. Still, she says faith has been the family’s anchor through the most uncertain moments. “There were many moments of fear and uncertainty, especially in the early months. But we have had to remain strong for Christon and continue encouraging him every single day,” she said. “We say to each other daily, ‘I love you,’ and we trust God completely.”
The family has extended heartfelt gratitude to the many groups and individuals who have supported them since the accident. They thanked the medical staff at Port of Spain General Hospital for their consistent care, Christon’s colleagues at Caribbean Airlines, the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA), their local church community, and prayer groups across Trinidad and Tobago. They also reaffirmed their thanks to the tourists and bystanders who saved Battersby’s life on the day of the accident, whom Vasquez-Rochard has long called “angels.” “Angel Sarah, angel Anna, and the other angels who came and rescued, revived, and gave back life to my son—I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said.
Just before the accident, Battersby had gained social media attention for sharing a video documenting his journey to become a commercial pilot at a young age, a dream he still holds onto today. Now, his family is asking the public to stand with them to give him a second chance to achieve that dream. Members of the public can contribute to Battersby’s recovery fund via the family’s GoFundMe campaign or through direct deposits to Republic Bank savings account 3500 2188 9031.