The 29-year-old, who has Down syndrome, had spent years learning how to cook, clean and care for himself, all in the lead-up to him finally getting the keys to his own unit.

Just six weeks after moving in, Josh was hanging some washing out on his balcony on Sunday afternoon when he accidentally locked himself out of the first-floor apartment.

When his calls for help went unanswered, Josh decided to attempt the five-metre jump to the ground, in a desperate bid to get back inside.

But the fall ended tragically - Josh was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital with a severed spinal cord and has been in hospital since.

It is unlikely he will walk again.

Cathy Potter, who runs life-skills program Rui’s Place where Josh had been a regular visitor for more than a decade, was devastated with the news.

‘‘It’s just so sad as he’s quite high functioning and had worked so hard to be allowed to live on his own,’’ she said.

‘‘He was so proud he’d got his washing done and wanted to follow mum’s instructions to hang it out when the sun was shining; we were all so proud of him.

‘‘We’re always preaching that we’re not all going to be here forever and we want to get people to the point where they can live independently and he was making great progress so it’s just devastating.’’

Now Josh faces a long road of hospital treatment and rehabilitation before he is released, where he will likely return to living with his mum Jan.

But the  house will need to be customised to suit Josh’s ongoing medical needs - a cost that Ms Potter and the Rui’s Place team are keen to help fund.

They have set up an appeal for anyone willing to donate, with all money to be given directly to the family.

‘‘We all want to do something as Josh and his mum are like family, we’ve known them for that long,’’ Ms Potter said.

‘‘Josh has stayed with my family; my son has known him since he was 17 and he’s just absolutely shattered.

‘‘Josh had just returned from a dream trip to the US where he visited Wrestlemania; he danced at a luncheon just a few weeks ago so to see him like this is just very sad.’’ 

Donations can be made to Rui’s Place Incorporated.

For more information, contact 4226 5566.