Family of Brit paralysed in freak selfie accident desperate to get her home from Thailand
THE family of a Brit paralysed in a freak selfie accident are desperate to get her home from Thailand. Teacher Jill Dodds, 47, suffered crippling spinal injuries when a balcony collapsed. She fell 20ft and crushed two vertebrae, leaving her paralysed from the waist down and unable to use her hands. Surgeons fear it may […]
THE family of a Brit paralysed in a freak selfie accident are desperate to get her home from Thailand.
Teacher Jill Dodds, 47, suffered crippling spinal injuries when a balcony collapsed.
She fell 20ft and crushed two vertebrae, leaving her paralysed from the waist down and unable to use her hands.
Surgeons fear it may be years before she can walk again and her family are trying to raise £30,000 to get her home.
Her sister Katie Breeze, 39, said: “It’s a complete nightmare.
“One moment she was living the perfect life in Thailand and the next she is in hospital with devastating injuries.”
Jill, of Morpeth, Northumberland, has lived there for six years and taught kids technology and science on Koh Samui.
She was with friends at an end-of-term party before Christmas when she leant against the balcony to take a selfie of the group.
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But it gave way, sending Jill and a pal plummeting. Her friend suffered a broken collarbone.
Meanwhile, metal rods were inserted to straighten Jill’s spine on Monday.
She was insured but repatriation costs are not covered.
Katie went on: “We’ve been talking to Jill as much as we can but it’s hard.
“She has no mobility from the waist down and she can’t use her hands.
“She has had one or two twinges in her legs which we hope is good news.
“She’s pretty down. She’s lucky she has a lot of people around her.”
