VIC:Melbourne woman falls off Croatian cliff

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2010
VIC:Melbourne woman falls off Croatian cliff

MELBOURNE, Aug 3 AAP - The family of a young Australian woman who suffered horrific
injuries after falling off a 40-metre cliff in Croatia is trying to get the money together
to fly to her hospital bedside.

Tania Hearnden, 24, on a five-month European holiday with her husband Gareth, was standing
on top of the cliff near Dubrovnik on Monday ready to jump into the water, but had second
thoughts.

As she turned to walk away, she slipped and fell.

Her mother Julie Todd told Fairfax Radio that Ms Hearnden sustained serious facial
injuries, broken arms, broken ribs, a broken hip, and has lost one kidney and her spleen.

"Her face was smashed up and they've done work on her jaw - she's in a bad way, but
she's stable at the moment," Ms Todd said.

She said her son was trying to get the money together to fly to his sister's bedside.

"My son is trying to get over there today, trying to get the funds together so he can
get a flight today," Ms Todd said.

The family also wants Ms Hearnden to be flown to a hospital in Milan to undergo major
reconstructive surgery.

"My kids are Christians and they belong to a Christian community and they're all getting
together and are trying to get her the best help they can," she said.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) says the Australian
embassy has contacted the hospital and the doctors treating Ms Hearnden.

"Consular officials from the Australian embassy in Zagreb will travel to Dubrovnik
today to provide consular assistance to the woman and her travelling companions," he said.

He said consular staff from DFAT have contacted her family in Australia and are providing
them with consular assistance.

AAP jxt/gfr/scj

KEYWORD: HEARNDEN

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