26 March 2024 , 20:44
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Olivia Corbiere, 23, who was left fighting for her life after a horror skiing accident in Bulgaria where she fell around 15ft into a ravine, has come out of her coma and is making progress
A woman left fighting for her life after a horror skiing accident has made a ’remarkable recovery’ - and even mouthed ’I love you’ to her boyfriend.
Olivia Corbiere, 23, was placed in an induced coma after falling around 15ft from a ski path into a ravine in Bansko, Bulgaria, on March 17. A week on from the accident - which caused a brain bleed, lung damage and a broken pelvis - Olivia finally came around from her coma.
She slipped back in over the weekend, but mum Linzi - who has flown to Sofia to be near her daughter - said she’d since woken up and shown signs of recovery. She’d even been able to squeeze the hand of a Build-A-Bear teddy made by her friends, which sets off a recording of the Temptations’ hit ’My Girl’ they’d recorded for her.
And today, Linzi also revealed Olivia had mouthed the words ’I love you’ to boyfriend Ben Smith, 24, who’s flown out to the capital to be near her. Speaking from an AirBnb in the city, Linzi said: "We went to the hospital and the nurses said she’s been looking at the teddy bear and she knew to squeeze its hand to sing. They allowed Ben to go in and see her, she mouthed ’I love you’ to him and she’s able to drink."
Since the crash - which saw strangers come to the aid of stricken Olivia, who was lying unconscious in the water - she has been in intensive care. She’s had a tracheostomy, brain surgery and has been under the care of leading neurologist Dr. Nurfet Alioski. Due to strict hospital rules, Linzi and husband Seb - who flew out to Bulgaria last week - have only been able spend 10 minutes each with Olivia.
But Linzi said of the time she was able to spend by her daughter’s bedside: "It was amazing. I talked to her, asked if she knew why she was here, she nodded. "I didn’t want to just say ’everyone’s here for you’, so I repeated everyone’s names and she had a little tear running down her face. She’s aware of where she is and why.
"I was just trying to reassure her and make sure she heard a familiar voice. They’ve shaved her head, which is devastating because Olivia had such beautiful long hair. But it’s only hair and it will grow back. She has a big scar on her head where they’ve operated and she’s had a tracheostomy."
Olivia pictured with her family was left fighting for her life ( Image: Linzi Corbiere / SWNS)
Over the weekend, Olivia had slipped back into a coma due to low levels of sodium in her system which left her family worried. But they’d been to see her today and were greeted with positive news.
Linzi added: "We went to the hospital this morning and the doctor had a big smile on his face so we knew it was good news. The part of her brain that has been damaged can affect speech, but we won’t know how much until later.
"But she’s communicating by nodding her head and she keeps opening her eyes. She is on medication, but she’s not sedated now, so she is making progress. All the taxi drivers have said her doctor is well known in Bulgaria as a miracle worker.
"He has queues of people waiting for him outside his office, so we’re sure she’s in good hands. It’s a waiting game, but it’s positive at the minute." More than £25,000 has been donated to a fundraising page set up to help the family.