Jake Bilsborow finished work at his landscaping job at about 1pm in Adelaide Hills on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old told Daily Mail Australia it was a blisteringly-hot day and went with two friends to a Bridgewater waterhole - a place he d been visiting since he was a child.
He always climbed right to the top to jump from the highest rock, but on that day, the talented sportsman decided to do a flip into the water.
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Pictured: Jake Bilsborow, 18, with his girlfriend Ellen Dawson, 17, months before he broke his back
Pictured: Jake Bilsborow (left) and his friend Charlie (right) at Bridgewater water hole. Mr Bilsborow tried to flip 6m into the water