A woman in Australia, originally from Chile, had a terrifying encounter with a magpie that left her with severe injuries, requiring urgent medical attention.
Marcela Montalva, who recently relocated to Ravenswood in the Australian Outback on a working holiday visa, found herself in a life-threatening situation when she was attacked by the bird while riding her bike to a nearby post office.
As a result of the magpie swooping down on her, Montalva lost control of her bicycle, leading to a serious fall that caused multiple fractures to her left cheekbone and a rare fracture of the hyoid bone in her neck. She was airlifted to Townsville University Hospital for immediate treatment due to the remote location.
Despite the ordeal, Montalva remains grateful to be alive, although she now faces the challenge of requiring facial reconstructive surgery to repair the damage caused by the magpie attack. She has encountered obstacles with her travel insurance, which has refused coverage for the medical expenses, citing that she was not wearing a helmet during the incident.
To cover the costs of her necessary medical procedures, Montalva has turned to crowdfunding and has raised approximately $12,000 (AUD) so far. The funds raised will aid in her recovery and help restore her ability to eat and speak normally.
Reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, Montalva expressed disbelief at the severity of the incident, emphasizing that she never anticipated such a situation arising from a bird attack despite her efforts to prioritize safety.
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