An Australian man has been left paralysed from the waist down after suffering a horrific accident while on holiday in Europe 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 turned into a nightmare.
“A jump from Bosnia’s iconic Mostar Bridge left Jordan with a life-changing injury,” Mahoney wrote in a GoFundMe page.
“When he fell into the water, he broke his T12 vertebra, which left him paralyzed in his lower body. He is currently in intensive care after several complex operations.”
The Old Bridge in Mostar is a popular attraction for tourists who want to jump from a 20-27 meter high waterfall, depending on the river level.
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 willing to help” others.
“Jordan’s journey to recovery has only just begun,” he said.
Australian Jordan Theobald (pictured left with partner Laura Mahoney) was left paralysed from the waist down after a dream trip abroad turned into a nightmare.
The bridge in Mostar, Bosnia, from which Australian Jordan Theobald jumped
‘He has already received several blood transfusions and needs additional medication to help stabilise his condition.’
Ms Mahoney said the road ahead would be “long and challenging” but there were already positive signs.
“After the operations, he was able to move his toes and stand with assistance for a few seconds. These small but significant signs of progress give us hope.”
She wrote that the emotional burden 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 run to more than $100,000, with more expected later.
“This is a huge sum and we cannot afford it alone. At this time we are not sure what, if anything, our travel insurance will cover,” 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 road to recovery.”
“Jordan and I are eternally grateful for the support we have already received and for any future support,” Mahoney wrote.