'It feels like a miracle': Woman, 23, who suffered brain damage and a broken spine in Bulgarian ski smash was given a five per cent chance of survival - but she's defied the odds and hopes to hit the slopes again READ MORE: Mother-of-two blames drunken hospital rampage on brain injury By Jonathan Neal Published: 11:41 EDT, 27 May 2024 | Updated: 12:06 EDT, 27 May 2024 e-mail View comments A young British woman given just a five per cent chance of survival after a horrific skiing accident has stunned doctors by making a 'miracle' recovery — and she's vowed to hit the slopes again as soon as she's physically able. Olivia Corbiere, 23, sustained a brain bleed, lung damage, a broken pelvis and and nose, and three fractured vertebrae when she fell 15ft into a ravine in Bansko, Bulgaria, in March. Doctors who first tended to the kitchen designer told her mum Linzi, 46, she had a limited chance of survival — and might never talk again if she did.
Olivia was placed in a medically induced coma — often done to limit brain damage — but shortly before was able to mouth the words 'I love you' to her boyfriend Ben Smith, 24, who flew out to be at her bedside. Olivia was later flown to back Britain for specialist treatment and defied the odds, recovering enough to return home after six weeks. Olivia Corbiere, 23, right, sustained a brain bleed, lung damage, a broken pelvis and and nose, and three fractured vertebrae when she fell 15ft into a ravine in Bansko, Bulgaria, in March Doct.