Jack Kavanagh pursuing his love of watersports.

Five weeks after his swimming accident in Albufeira, Portugal, Ratoath teenager Jack Kavanagh hs posted his first message on his Facebook site through his father, local pharmacist Peter.

Jack, a pharmacy student at Trinity College, sustained a fracture to a vertebrae in his neck when he dived into water on the beach but hit his head off the sand on Friday 31st August. He was airlifted to Sao José Hospital in Lisbon and on 14th September was transferred by ICU air ambulance to the Mater Hospital in Dublin, where he has been making progress as he is being weaned off a ventilator. He has been moved to the spinal injuries unit there.

His family has set up a Facebook site, www.facebook.com/SupportForJackKavanagh, in which they have been keeping people updated on his progress.

On Sunday, Peter transcribed a message from Jack, reading: "Hi guys, It is five weeks on and still your support is unwavering. i don't know what else to say but thank you so so much for every like and every comment. You have no idea how much it lifts my spirits to know that I have all of you behind me.

Now that is the soppy bit over, I am doing great. I have had so many positives, one nearly every day and I plan to keep it that way. Unfortunately a plaster, a few spoons of Calpol, and a day on the couch will not fix this, but I am not ever giving up until I am back on my feet and back to normal.

Just over the weekend I have made great advances. As of now I have been breathing by myself unaided for a day and a half and feeling has come back into my right arm down as far as the base of my thumb. Things are only going to get better from here,

"I am staying really really positive because there is no sense in thinking any other way. I hope that all of you will keep up the unbelievable support to both myself and my family. I hope you are doing well. Thanks again. Looking forward to seeing you all - love, Jack."