CLOSE TO THE EDGE
Jamie Brotsky, 30, fell in love with travelling – only taking that plunge left her fighting for her life…
Throwing my rucksack off my back, it hurtled onto the hostel bed. Now this is the life, I smiled, already able to tick London and Greece off of my travelling list.
Growing up in Massachusetts, USA, with my mum Susan, 66, and dad Craig, 67, I wasn’t convinced by seeing much of the world.
I was always quite happy where I was.
Only, as I hit my
20s, that mindset changed entirely.
I wanted nothing more to experience what the world had to offer, and what crazy things I could get up to jet-setting across the globe.
When it came to my first European solo-trip in June 2018, I had big plans. One month packed full of
sights to see and new hobbies to pursue.
Although it made my parents nervous, they were happy that I was getting out there and seeing new sights.
Touching down in Italy on 20 June 2018, two weeks into my trip, I’d booked a room in a hostel in the picturesque village of Riomaggiore.
With a bubbly, thrill-seeking and confident personality, I quickly introduced myself to the travellers that were also staying in the hostel.
‘So, what’s good to do around here?’ I quizzed.
It was the icebreaker that was needed, and soon our personalities all started to bounce off one another – it was great fun. ‘Well, there’s a walk and at the end of it we are going to go cliff jumping,’ they said.
‘Oh, count me in!’ I interrupted, excitedly.
Being a strong swimmer, I loved the water but had never had the chance to jump into it from a great height before.
I’m on holiday, why not? What could go wrong?
So, putting my swimsuit on, we left the hostel.
Making our way through cobbled streets, we talked about all things travelling and before long, we had cleared through the trees, reaching the top.
The views were breath-taking – I’d never seen anything quite like it.
Snapping pictures to later share on my Instagram, I couldn’t get enough.
As everyone lined up on the side of the 40ft cliff, I stripped down to my swimsuit.
‘Let’s do this!’ I shouted, handing my phone to one of my new friends, so they could catch the epic moment on camera.
Without asking what to do, thinking, or even looking down, I ran towards the edge, propelling my body forward. Here we go…
‘Oh my God, I’m in the air,’ I cried, giddy with excitement.
Only, looking beneath me, my thoughts quickly changed to something else.
I don’t want to do this. You can’t go back now.
It was like my brain was fighting with itself.
As gravity played its part, I started to free fall.
Yet, there was one thing I hadn’t remembered to do – jump far enough out to avoid hitting the jagged cliff face.
But there was nothing I could do – it was too late.
You’re going to get hurt, Jamie, I thought over and over. BOOM! Smashing into the rocks, my body was launched at what felt like 100mph into the air, hurtling me across the sky.
In that moment, I knew I’d done some damage.
I could hear my own body crack as I crashed, that was before the excruciating pain kicked in.
In a matter of seconds, my instincts took over and I knew I had to protect my head.
Lifting my feet up, I hit the cliff for a second time, before flying into the icy water.
Concentrating on using my arms, I forced my body to bob in the water.
There are people that have seen you, you’re going to be OK.
Only, I knew I had messed myself up – I couldn’t even kick my legs.
Several brave onlookers jumped into the water and helped guide me back to the safety of the shore – nobody else was going to jump after seeing what they had from me.
If anything, that was a lesson of how not to go cliff jumping!
‘Don’t look down,’ the strangers said.
‘Is it bad?’ I asked, gritting my teeth in pain, as they called the paramedics.
Only, when someone tells you not to look, you have to!
What I saw next was a pretty awful sight – my left foot was smashed to smithereens.
It didn’t even look like I had a foot anymore.
I could see bone, blood, and huge flappy pieces of my skin.
‘I’d like to have my phone back now,’ I begged, frantically
There was nothing I could do – it was far too late
looking through my contacts as soon as I had it in my hands.
Wasting no time, I quickly called Dad.
‘Hey sweetie,’ he beamed. ‘Hey Dad, so I’ve just broken both of my legs, I’m about to get in a helicopter to go to hospital,’ I laughed, the adrenaline kicking in.
‘Funny...’ he mocked, but he quickly knew I wasn’t joking.
Hanging up, I knew he was figuring something out.
As the paramedics arrived, they carried me by stretcher up the rocky terrain, with a trail of my blood leaving a mark.
Being airlifted to San Martino Hospital, Italy, I was then rushed in for surgery.
I hadn’t broken my legs like I had thought – I’d broken a vertebra in my spine as well as smashing my feet to pieces.
‘As long as I can walk again, I’ll be fine,’ I muttered.
And with hardly anyone speaking English, I wasn’t sure if that would even be true.
However, after a nine-hour operation, it was a success.
My feet and back had been pieced together.
And during this time, Dad had taken three different flights, all the way from America, to see me.
My mum wasn’t fit for travel, but I knew she was there to support me.
‘Oh, sweetie,’ he cried, seeing me for the first time.
If anything, I was just glad he didn’t have to witness the original state that my foot was in – that was just horrific.
After 11 long days on the ward, I was finally able to fly back to Massachusetts, to spend the rest of my recovery in my local hospital.
Although, my travel insurance didn’t cover the costs to get me back to the US, so Dad had to use $20,000 of his retirement money to get me there – I felt awful.
‘I wish I never jumped,’ I mouthed to him.
‘You can’t change the accident, you can only better your future,’ Dad confirmed, which put me at ease entirely.
Only, once I was back home, it didn’t make things easier.
‘You’ve got a black square on your ankle, Jamie,’ Dad said, and being a nurse he knew what that meant – an infection.
‘We may have to perform a full amputation,’ the consultant explained.
How am I going to walk again? Let alone travel...
‘Please just save my foot. It’s a good one, I even have a cute tattoo on it,’ I smiled.
Thankfully, after another nine-hour operation, with doctors using a muscle from my back and performing skin grafts to save the appendage, my foot had been saved!
For three months, I spent my life in a wheelchair.
Unable to stand, walk or even shower.
Mum had to change my commode and watched movies with me in my darkest times – she was truly the best.
‘I will walk, I will strive, I will overcome,’ I said, every day.
And that’s exactly what I did.
Wobbling on a pair of crutches, I could barely stand for a second.
But after practicing over the weekend, I could stand! Then walk, then run.
The doctors were amazed at my progress, but I knew how much I wanted to get back on my feet and face the world.
‘You’re a crazy girl,’ Mum and Dad would joke and I suppose they were right!
Posting about my story on social media, kind donations came flooding in from people I didn’t even know.
As a result, I’ve been able to give Dad $8,000 towards his retirement fund back.
It’s been four years since the accident and I am doing great.
So much so, I have sold my belongings and am living my life on the road – exploring the wonders of the world.
I had fallen head over heels for travelling, I wasn’t going to let a risky jump define me.
In April last year, on a backpacking trip to Hawaii, I decided it was time to have another go at cliff jumping.
‘Here goes nothing!’ I screamed, shaking like a leaf.
Luckily, there were no rocks to cause any damage!
I can’t wait to see more of the world, ready to take my second chance at life with both hands.
I’d even love to return to the place that caused my injuries.
Only, this time round for a boat tour – the cliff has been closed thanks to me.
I guess I’m that cliff jumping friend that your mum always warned you about!
It didn’t even look like I had a foot anymore