An Australian man has been left paralysed from the waist down following a horrific accident while on a European holiday with his girlfriend.
Jordan Theobald, 29, and his partner Laura Mahoney saved for years for what was supposed to be ‘the trip of a lifetime’ before it spiralled into a nightmare.
‘A jump off the iconic Mostar Bridge in Bosnia left Jordan with a life-altering injury,’ Ms Mahoney wrote on a GoFundMe page.
‘Upon landing in the water he shattered his T12 vertebrae, leaving him with paralysis of his lower body. He is currently in the ICU after complex surgeries.’
Old Bridge Mostar is a tourist attraction where the brave-hearted have the chance to jump into the water below – a 20 to 27m plunge depending on river levels.
Anyone wishing to jump off the bridge must first receive permission and training from local jumpers who provide lessons on how to land safely and avoid injury.
Ms Mahoney said her partner is ‘an incredibly active and loving person… he has an adventurous spirit and a passion for surfing and snowboarding’.
She said the Melbourne man’s caring nature draws people to him and he ‘is always ready to lend a helping hand’ to others.
Australian man Jordan Theobald (pictured left with his partner Laura Mahoney) has been left paralysed from the waist down after a dream overseas trip turned into nightmare
Mostar Bridge in Bosnia, the bridge Australian man Jordan Theobald jumped off, is pictured
‘Jordan’s journey to recovery is just beginning,’ she said.
‘He has already undergone several blood transfusions and requires additional medication to help stabilise his condition.’
Ms Mahoney said what lies ahead will be ‘long and challenging’, but that there are already positive signs.
‘Following the surgeries, he has been able to wiggle his toes and stand assisted for a few seconds. These small yet significant signs of progress give us hope,’ she said.
Ms Mahoney said the emotional toll on Jordan and his loved ones is immense, ‘but the financial burden is equally overwhelming’.
The cost of medical care and repatriation to Australia will come to more than $100,000, with further expenses expected later.
‘This is a daunting sum, and we cannot face it alone. At this stage we are unsure what, if anything, our travel insurance will cover,’ Ms Mahoney wrote.
She said any donation, no matter the size, ‘brings Jordan one step closer to the care he needs and the comfort of being surrounded by his loved ones (and) will make a profound difference in his recovery journey’.
‘Jordan and I are eternally grateful for the support we have already received and any future support,’ Ms Mahoney wrote.
