Spine-shattering plunge a painful lesson

WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

BAD LANDING: Chelsea Brown in the body brace she has to wear for 12 weeks after injuring her spine at the Manawatu River.

A Palmerston North teenager faces a lengthy recovery after shattering her spine while attempting a jump at a popular Manawatu River swimming hole.

Chelsea Brown, 17, was swimming near the Balance Bridge with five friends last Wednesday when she jumped off some rocks – a plunge of about 23 metres.

Miss Brown tried a classic "pin drop" manoeuvre but was unable to control her body in the air.

Her lower back hit the water, fracturing a vertebra on impact.

"It was very, very painful. I was winded straight away. My friends had to carry me to the car and drive me to hospital."

The impact caused a burst fracture to her vertebrae and severe bruising to her backside and legs.

Doctors did not operate but have put Miss Brown in a body brace for three months.

She was discharged from Palmerston North Hospital on Friday but could take six months to fully recover.

"I can stand and I can move, but I have to move very slowly," she said.

Miss Brown often swims in the spot but said it was the first time she had attempted the jump.

"I've seen people jump off it before, and my friends and stuff were jumping. I feel like a d..k for not landing properly but I couldn't control it when I was in the air."

Miss Brown's mother, Lyn Jones, said the jump should not be attempted by anyone.

"Obviously kids are going to continue doing it but it's not safe. Don't do it."

A self-confessed "social butterfly", Miss Brown said her decreased mobility would be hard to handle.

"I've had my friends around me so that's cool. I just won't be going anywhere for a while."

However, Miss Brown considers herself lucky, especially after doctors told her a different landing may have paralysed or killed her. She will not attempt the jump again.

"People just need to be careful and land properly."

Water Safety New Zealand general manager Matt Claridge said it was common in the summer for people to injure themselves after jumping into rivers from heights. Swimmers should always assess the water depth and check for hidden objects before jumping.

- © Fairfax NZ News