Tragic twist in a family camping trip: How a simple mistake left an Aussie mum paralysed
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The great Australian outdoors beckons many of us to its natural beauty, offering a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Camping trips, in particular, are a cherished tradition for many families, providing a chance to bond and create lasting memories.
However, for one Melbourne family, a routine camping excursion turned into a life-altering event that underscores the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of safety in the wilderness.
Last month, Leanne Cattanach, a 46-year-old mum of three, experienced a harrowing ordeal that has left her paralysed from the waist down.
While enjoying the serene environment of the Murray River banks at Tocumwal, on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, a single misstep resulted in a tragic accident.
Leanne, while warming her hands by the fire, fell five meters off a cliff and into the river below, breaking her spine and suffering multiple other injuries.
‘I took one step back and literally fell off the cliff,’ the mum-of-three from Melbourne recounted while recovering at a hospital.
‘I woke up and I was just struggling to breathe.’
‘My daughter just kept saying “Mum, I’m here,”’ she continued.
‘I landed in the water, so they had to move my head out of the water and put me in a recovery position.’
Leanne recounted drifting in and out of consciousness, and most of the events afterwards were blurry.
She recalled her family trying to call for help, despite the limited phone reception.
Her daughters and partner Mick managed to keep her alive for three hours until assistance arrived.
Although she cannot recall exactly how she fell, she suspected she struck debris on the way down, judging by the nature of her back injury.
Doctors confirmed that she had broken her T11 and T12 vertebrae, causing severe damage to her spinal cord.
Additionally, her sternum and three ribs were fractured, and she also suffered a fractured lung.
As a result of her injuries, Leanne is now paralysed from the waist down, with doctors expressing concerns that she may never regain the ability to walk.
‘I just remember waking up [in hospital] and then Mick [her partner] was asleep on the floor. He told me I needed a back operation,’ Leanne narrated.
‘I was still not quite understanding the whole extent of everything. But the look on his [Mick’s] face… he was probably in shock himself.’
The aftermath of the accident has been a challenging journey for Leanne and her family.
Initially treated at Shepparton Hospital, she was later transferred to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she spent time in the ICU.
Discussing her recovery this week, Leanne mentioned that she has ‘progressed really, really well’ despite her life-altering injuries.
However, she still lacks mobility from her waist down and relies on assistance for ‘normal, everyday tasks’.
‘I do like to do things myself, and so the amount of stuff that I need help with is, it's really hard,’ Cattanach said.
‘I'm trying to get stronger in my upper body so that I can focus on rehabilitating, but everyone heals differently.’
‘The girls have been really supportive. It’s actually brought everyone together,’ she added.
The emotional and financial toll on the family has been significant.
Leanne’s youngest daughter, Tegan, who—along with Aimee—still resides at home with their mother, set up a GoFundMe page to ‘help with the financial burden on my mum for us, so she can focus on rehabilitation’.
Leanne cannot work and will probably need a new car better suited to her injuries.
‘Mum needs to focus on her rehab right now,’ Tegan said.
‘We don’t know how long recovery will take—months, years, or the realisation that she may never recover.’
As Leanne awaits a bed in a rehabilitation centre in Talbot, she reflected on the support she has received from her daughters, which has brought the family closer together.
There, she'll learn ‘how to look after myself’ before eventually being allowed to return home.
Although she can now use a wheelchair to move around, she mentioned that ‘things are still really hard for me’.
Meanwhile, in another camping mishap, tourists experienced a terrifying encounter with a surprise crocodile visit, turning their tranquil trip into a nightmare.
We pray for Leanne’s speedy recovery.
Have you or someone you know ever experienced a life-changing accident? How did you adapt to the changes? Let us know your stories in the comments below.
Camping trips, in particular, are a cherished tradition for many families, providing a chance to bond and create lasting memories.
However, for one Melbourne family, a routine camping excursion turned into a life-altering event that underscores the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of safety in the wilderness.
Last month, Leanne Cattanach, a 46-year-old mum of three, experienced a harrowing ordeal that has left her paralysed from the waist down.
While enjoying the serene environment of the Murray River banks at Tocumwal, on the border of New South Wales and Victoria, a single misstep resulted in a tragic accident.
Leanne, while warming her hands by the fire, fell five meters off a cliff and into the river below, breaking her spine and suffering multiple other injuries.
Leanne Cattanach fell off a cliff during a family camping trip, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. Credits: GoFundMe
‘I took one step back and literally fell off the cliff,’ the mum-of-three from Melbourne recounted while recovering at a hospital.
‘I woke up and I was just struggling to breathe.’
‘My daughter just kept saying “Mum, I’m here,”’ she continued.
‘I landed in the water, so they had to move my head out of the water and put me in a recovery position.’
Leanne recounted drifting in and out of consciousness, and most of the events afterwards were blurry.
She recalled her family trying to call for help, despite the limited phone reception.
Her daughters and partner Mick managed to keep her alive for three hours until assistance arrived.
Although she cannot recall exactly how she fell, she suspected she struck debris on the way down, judging by the nature of her back injury.
Doctors confirmed that she had broken her T11 and T12 vertebrae, causing severe damage to her spinal cord.
Additionally, her sternum and three ribs were fractured, and she also suffered a fractured lung.
As a result of her injuries, Leanne is now paralysed from the waist down, with doctors expressing concerns that she may never regain the ability to walk.
‘I just remember waking up [in hospital] and then Mick [her partner] was asleep on the floor. He told me I needed a back operation,’ Leanne narrated.
‘I was still not quite understanding the whole extent of everything. But the look on his [Mick’s] face… he was probably in shock himself.’
The aftermath of the accident has been a challenging journey for Leanne and her family.
Initially treated at Shepparton Hospital, she was later transferred to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she spent time in the ICU.
Discussing her recovery this week, Leanne mentioned that she has ‘progressed really, really well’ despite her life-altering injuries.
However, she still lacks mobility from her waist down and relies on assistance for ‘normal, everyday tasks’.
‘I do like to do things myself, and so the amount of stuff that I need help with is, it's really hard,’ Cattanach said.
‘I'm trying to get stronger in my upper body so that I can focus on rehabilitating, but everyone heals differently.’
‘The girls have been really supportive. It’s actually brought everyone together,’ she added.
The emotional and financial toll on the family has been significant.
Leanne’s youngest daughter, Tegan, who—along with Aimee—still resides at home with their mother, set up a GoFundMe page to ‘help with the financial burden on my mum for us, so she can focus on rehabilitation’.
Leanne cannot work and will probably need a new car better suited to her injuries.
‘Mum needs to focus on her rehab right now,’ Tegan said.
‘We don’t know how long recovery will take—months, years, or the realisation that she may never recover.’
As Leanne awaits a bed in a rehabilitation centre in Talbot, she reflected on the support she has received from her daughters, which has brought the family closer together.
There, she'll learn ‘how to look after myself’ before eventually being allowed to return home.
Although she can now use a wheelchair to move around, she mentioned that ‘things are still really hard for me’.
Meanwhile, in another camping mishap, tourists experienced a terrifying encounter with a surprise crocodile visit, turning their tranquil trip into a nightmare.
Have you or someone you know ever experienced a life-changing accident? How did you adapt to the changes? Let us know your stories in the comments below.
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