australian tourist injured in croatia

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Australian couple seriously hurt after Croatia fall

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A woman is fighting for her life after she and her partner fell 33 feet from a medieval wall in Croatia featured on 'Game of Thrones'

• An Australian couple fell 33 feet from a medieval wall in Dubrovnik while intoxicated, police said.
• The wall and surrounding area are featured in HBO's "Game of Thrones."
• The woman has life-threatening injuries, which include brain damage, a doctor told local media.

An Australian woman is fighting for her life after she and her partner fell around 33 feet from a medieval wall in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik early on Saturday morning, according to reports.

The couple slipped and fell from a wall between two restaurants in Pile, a neighborhood in Dubrovnik's Old Town, at around 2.35 a.m. on Saturday, Croatian media outlets reported.

The area, which is near the city center, is featured in numerous scenes in seasons two and three of HBO's "Game of Thrones."

The couple fell when the woman, who is 26, leaned against her partner, who is 34, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The incident appears to have been accidental, with no indication that anything criminal took place, Andrijana Biskup, Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Department spokesperson, said in a statement to the local news outlet Dubrovacka Televizija.

Breathalyzer tests revealed that the couple was under the influence of alcohol, Biskup said, according to the news outlet.

Biskup said that the man had a blood alcohol reading of just over 0.2, while the woman's was 0.3. 

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According to the Cleveland Clinic , at these levels, a person may experience confusion, vomiting, drowsiness, or even alcohol poisoning if over 0.3%.

The woman was put in a coma

The couple was taken to General Hospital Dubrovnik, which is in the area. The hospital's director Dr. Marija Bekić told the local media outlet Dubrovacki Vjesnik that the young woman is in an intensive care unit in an induced coma.

She is in a life-threatening condition, Bekić added, per the outlet.

Dr. Ivan Benčić, a trauma specialist at the hospital, said the woman had spinal and brain damage, as well as vertebral fractures, according to the Croatian broadcaster HRT.

"We are constantly monitoring her and doing everything we can to fight for her life," he said, according to a translation by The Herald. "As far as the male is concerned he had a far better run than she did."

The man had surgery on a broken leg but is in a stable condition, Bekić said, per Dubrovacki Vjesnik.

Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Department did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

In a statement provided to Insider, a spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is providing consular assistance to the two Australians.

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Two Aussies On A Euro Trip Are In Hospital After Literally Falling Off A Cliff In Dubrovnik

Sweeney Preston

Per reporting by The Weekend Australian , a 34-year-old man has had to go through emergency surgery and remains in a serious condition in hospital.

A woman aged 26 remains in intensive care.

Their fall is believed to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning at around 2:30am.

According to the Daily Mail, they were leaning up against a wall before losing their footing and plunging five metres.

The local Dubrovnik-Neretva authorities have concluded that intoxication with alcohol was to blame for the incident.

The 26-year-old woman reportedly had a blood alcohol reading (BAC) of 0.3.

For reference, you are required to have a BAC lower than 0.05 to drive a car in Australia.

At 0.3, the woman’s level would’ve been approximately six times this, meaning she likely would have likely been highly impaired.

Blackouts are also known to occur at that level of intoxication.

The man’s BAC was reportedly 0.21.

The identities of the two Australians have not yet been made public.

The incident occurred near Fort Lovrijenac, often nicknamed “Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar”.

The fort, perched 37 metres above sea level, became famous after it was used as a filming location in Game of Thrones .

Fans of the series would recognise the spot as the Red Keep in King’s Landing in the second and third seasons of the show.

We wish both of these fellow citizens a speedy recovery and hope they can continue their Euro trip from where they left off!

It genuinely does feel like so many of our mates are in Europe right now. Either that or Bali, let’s be honest.

If you’re keen for some touch-grass content, this piece about why a Euro trip can actually fucking suck when you’re a person of colour, might pique your interest.

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Innocent joy: Jordan Robinson, right, was travelling Europe with friend Tiana Sulka, when she was left with serious injury. Photo / GoFundMe

A young Victoria woman’s European holiday took a tragic turn after a split second decision to cool off in the Mediterranean sea.

Jordan Robinson, 20, was hospitalised with a debilitating spine injury after swimming in Croatia, two and a half weeks before she was due to fly home.

Robinson, who was travelling Europe with best friend Tiana Sluka, had been visiting the tourist hub of Dubrovnik last month when something went “terribly wrong”.

Bystanders came to Robinson’s rescue when it was clear something had gone wrong. They had to pull her from the waters.

“The incident occurred during an innocent moment of joy,” said Tiana’s sister, Kayla Sluka.

Instead of joy, it left the traveller with severe injuries to her lower back.

Having been rushed to hospital Robinson was diagnosed with a fractured vertebrae, with bone fragments dangerously close to her spinal cord.

The fracture to her L1 lumbar vertebra was a “devastating diagnosis” and meant that the Australian required urgent treatment and would not be able to fly home.

Robinson’s mother Marg, who is experiencing “passport issues”, has not been able to visit her daughter in hospital.

Tiana’s family have stepped in to help her, with her mother having flown out to be with her daughter and the hospitalised traveller.

Sister Kayla has set up an online fundraiser to cover the emergency travel and medical expenses of Jordan.

“It was a trip that the girls had meticulously planned, researched, and saved for over a year and a half,” wrote Kayla to the girls’ GoFundMe page. This was their moment to explore the world and create beautiful memories that would last a lifetime.”

The fundraiser has collected AU$48,650 of its AU$50,000 target from 287 donations.

Kayla says that Jordan has since undergone surgery to remove bone fragments from her spine, and has since “taken a few steps”.

The family said that they were liaising with medical team and insurance ast to the best way to get her home.

“The families and Jordan are all so grateful for the generosity and messages that have been shared,” she said.

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Australian tourist Aaron Kirkman returns home, but is expected to be charged over Croatia club brawl

THE Australian tourist who seriously injured a man during a nightclub brawl in Croatia is on a flight back home. But it’s not over yet.

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THE Australian tourist who seriously injured a man during a brawl in Croatia is on a flight back to Australia.

Aaron Kirkman, 34, from Cranebrook in western Sydney, had his passport returned to him by police on Thursday.

He is due to touch down in Australia this morning.

However, police still expect to charge him over a brawl outside a nightclub in the tourist town on Split on July 11 which left a 28-year-old Croatian man with a fractured skull.

His lawyer has been told to expect charges to be laid of “overreacting in self-defence.’’

He has been stranded in Croatia for two weeks while police conducted their initial investigation.

Mr Kirkman’s Croatian lawyer Jadran Franceschi told News Corp last night his client would be charged and a trial would go ahead.

He said Mr Kirkman was facing the charge of overreacting in self defence, which could carry a short jail term.

It is not known whether Mr Kirkman will return to Croatia to fight the charges or appear in court via video link.

A date is yet to be set for his trial.

Mr Kirkman, who worked in the mines in Pottsville, northern NSW, for eight years, told News Corp last week he was acting in self defence when he threw the punch that landed the local man in hospital.

He said he was unsure how the scuffle started but that he had become involved in an altercation with “about five men’’ in the popular nightclub Inbox before the argument moved outside.

“As soon as I found out he was in intensive care it was like a knife to my chest,” he said at the time.

“It honestly was the last thing that I ever wanted to happen.

“I’m just, I’m gutted. I’m so sorry.’’

The injured Croatian is still recovering in the KBC Hospital in Split.

The popular instructor nearly drowned on Monday and had been in a coma since then.

A huge debate has erupted on social media about a specific cruising rule after a group of passengers were stranded in Africa.

A cruise ship carrying 1500 passengers is stuck in Barcelona, after a portion of the travellers forgot to bring one crucial document on board.

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WA police officer critically injured in Croatian cliff fall faces a ‘long road’ to recovery

Close friend and colleague has revealed Ella Cutler, who fell 10 metres from Dubrovnik clifftop, is out of ICU but still faces ‘many surgeries’

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A friend and colleague of the young WA police officer left fighting for her life in a Croatian hospital after a cliff fall says she has a long road to recovery but is “doing amazing”.

Ella Cutler, 26, suffered severe injuries when she fell 10m from a clifftop while on holiday in Dubrovnik, Croatia in late August, and was put into the local hospital’s intensive care unit.

Doctors initially informed her family that Cutler was unlikely to survive.

Constable Dani Morrison, who became close friends with Cutler when she first joined the police, said on Sunday Cutler has “a long road” to recovery but has “fought really hard”.

“She’s no longer in the ICU. She has been moved to another ward, where she’s still in critical condition. She has many surgeries to undergo. She’s got a lot of broken bones,” Morrison said.

“She’s got a long way to go but she’s doing amazing.”

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Though Cutler had travel insurance, her injury claim was denied after local police determined she had been drinking at the time of the fall.

Cutler’s brother, Joshua, helped initially organised a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his sister’s medical bills and the $400,000 required to fly her home.

“The doctors who have looked after her since her admission to the hospital in Dubrovnik have been amazing, and we cannot thank them enough for their hard work keeping her alive,” a statement on the campaign page said.

“They have conveyed the importance of moving her to a bigger hospital with better facilities where she can receive specialised care vital for further recovery.”

The campaign was given a boost by the Western Australian police which shared a video to social media paying tribute to Cutler with the aim of raising $500,000.

As of Sunday afternoon the campaign had raised $504,011 from more than 6,400 donors, including people from around Australia and overseas.

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Morrison offered a “heartfelt thank you” to those who contributed from both the Western Australia police and Cutler’s mother.

Morrison described Cutler as “selfless”, “the most compassionate, empathetic, caring person” and a “beautiful soul” whose injuries had shocked the close-knit Western Australian law enforcement community.

She said the money will be used to arrange transport home “as soon as possible” after a survey next week.

“[Ella] will be so moved,” Morrison said. “I think she’ll be highly embarrassed. She’s not one for the public spotlight, she’s doesn’t ask for help. She’s so independent and resourceful herself.

“So she will be firstly horrified, but secondly, she’ll be for ever thankful for the support.”

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WA police officer Ella Cutler who was critically injured in Croatia cliff fall leaves hospital after three months of around the clock care

WA police officer Ella Cutler, 25, who was critically injured after falling 10 meters off a Croatian cliff and told she had just a five per cent chance of survival has walked free from hospital after three months of around-the-clock care.

A Western Australian Police officer who was left fighting for life after plunging off a 10-meter cliff while on vacation in Croatia has walked out of hospital.

Ella Cutler suffered critical injuries when she fell near Fort Lovrijenac on August 26 - fracturing her spine, head, limbs ribs and puncturing her lungs.

The 25-year-old had been drinking with a 34-year-old Australian man, who also fell and suffered a broken leg which required surgery.

Ella was initially receiving around-the-clock care from doctors in Dubrovnik.

However the police officer's travel insurer would not cover her medical bills - or a repatriation flight - because she had been drinking at the time of the accident.

Four weeks ago the young policewoman was placed in an induced coma and flown to the Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.

On Wednesday, WA Police shared a photo of Ms Cutler on crutches, with a brace around her torso and leg, walking free from hospital.

“I'm overwhelmed by what [my family] have all done to get me home,” Ms Cutler told the media this week, the Daily Mail reports.

“I don't feel myself but I'm OK with where I'm going. Hopefully I get better than where I am now.”

Doctors initially told Ms Cutler's family that she only had a five per cent chance of survival.

Shortly after the tragedy, her brother Josh said that while his sister was able to breathe on her own, the 25-year-old would require months of physical rehabilitation.

He added that Ms Cutler was enjoying "a well-earned holiday overseas in Europe" which had turned into a nightmare.

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Police officer ella cutler walks from hospital three months after horrific holiday fall in croatia.

WA Police officer Ella Cutler has been pictured walking from hospital in Perth

A police officer critically injured in a catastrophic holiday fall in Europe three months ago has been seen, in an uplifting video, walking from hospital.

Ella Cutler’s body was shattered when she fell several metres from a wall in Croatia on August 26, with doctors telling family she had just a five per cent chance of survival.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: WA Police officer Ella Cutler has been pictured walking from hospital in Perth.

The 25-year-old required around-the-clock care from doctors in Dubrovnik while she waited for an avenue home.

Her insurer knocked back funding to cover both medical costs and the popular detective constable’s flight home to Perth , because she had been drinking on the night she was injured.

Her devastated family launched a fundraiser to fill the enormous financial gap, with close to $530,000 in donations pouring in from across the country.

The biggest-ever WA-based GoFundMe campaign was critical to her returning to WA in late September.

On Wednesday, WA Police shared vision of what many only dreamed of witnessing three months ago — Cutler smiling, talking and walking out of hospital.

Using crutches and supported by braces on her back and left leg, she was filmed leaving rehabilitation at Fiona Stanley Hospital before she expressed her appreciation to her thousands of supporters.

“Thank you so much for bringing me home. Your kindness is overwhelming,” Cutler said.

The officer told 7NEWS: “There are times when my body might hurt a little bit more than what it normally would but generally I’m OK.”

Cutler and her family met with WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch at police HQ on Tuesday and, incredibly, she is determined to return to the job she loves.

Her extensive injury list included multiple fractures to her skull, spine, ribs and several limbs, and she also punctured both lungs in the fall.

“She will require many more months of care, multiple surgeries and months of physical rehabilitation before she is able to impact the world as she once did,” brother Josh said previously.

Family immediately raced to be by Cutler’s side in hospital in August, watching as her medical bills quickly mounted.

Their anxiety levels went through the roof when they realised they were on their own financially, with travel insurance fine print leaving her family with no choice but to ask strangers for help.

“We were told she had a five per cent chance of survival,” mother Nicole Cutler said in September.

The officer was injured in a catastrophic holiday fall in Croatia.

“Then to hear the insurance company had let us down, we just went into complete and utter shock.

“I can’t even begin to explain what that was like. I had never anticipated that the insurance wouldn’t help us to bring her home.”

RAC WA sold the policy to the officer but another company called Tokio Marine handles and settles claims.

Cutler’s story was similar to that of a mother who suffered a major brain injury in a fall at a hotel in Thailand .

Kylee Enwright had to be medically evacuated back to Australia in June but the flight, which cost more than $200,000, was paid for by generous donors because her insurer excluded incidents involving alcohol .

Her husband Paul Enwright blasted the process to estimate her blood alcohol level of 0.37, which he disputes.

Kylee passed away surrounded by loved ones in August.

The Insurance Council says most travel policies will cover people under the influence of alcohol up to 0.19 per cent, just less than four times over the legal limit to drive.

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