British woman, 23, plunges 15ft from ski path into Bulgarian ravine – as terrified friends pull her from water
A British tourist is in critical condition after a tragic ski accident during her holiday in Bulgaria.
Olivia Corbiere, 23, was placed in an induced coma after falling approximately 15 feet from a ski path into a large ravine in the southwestern town of Bansko. She had recently celebrated her birthday and had traveled to the resort of Chalin Valog with her friends and her 19-year-old sister, Phoebe, just a few days prior.
Despite being an experienced skier and a kitchen designer, Olivia suffered severe injuries, including a broken pelvis, three fractured vertebrae, a broken eye socket, and a broken nose. She was swiftly taken to Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, by her concerned friends after they managed to rescue her from the water.
Reports indicate that Olivia underwent a four-hour emergency surgery, during which surgeons had to remove part of her skull to address the brain bleeding. Her mother, Linzi, 46, rushed from Aston, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, upon receiving the distressing news.
Expressing her distress, Linzi, who works as a train dispatcher for East Midlands Railway, mentioned, "Olivia has just come out of surgery, and the surgeon says they've never seen a head injury like it. The next few hours are critical, and they're planning to wake her up tomorrow."
"They're very strict in Bulgaria, and we're not allowed to sit by the bed or visit. However, they did allow me to see her yesterday, and I was able to speak to her and assure her that we're here for her. I noticed her eyelashes flickered, so I know she heard me," Linzi shared.
Currently staying at a nearby hotel and relying on translators provided by the ski resort, Linzi continued, "She's not paralyzed; they've assured us of that because she was moving her limbs too much. That's why they had to put her in an induced coma. We just have to wait and see if they'll let me be there when they wake her up tomorrow."
"I flew out yesterday morning, and my husband flew out last night. The girls have been amazing, helping us with shopping and making sure we have everything we need. We packed hastily and didn't know what to bring," she added.
Linzi also mentioned that Olivia's father, Seb, 51, flew out last night to join the family, and their son Morgan, 22, should also be on his way to Bulgaria soon.
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