- Imelda O’Brien fell in January
- Balcony on the sixth floor broke due to a fall
A much-loved Bondi beautician is ‘lucky to be alive’ after a horrific fall from the 11th floor of her apartment building left her fighting for her life.
Imelda O’Brien, owner of an eyelash extension shop in Bondi Junction, jumped from her balcony in January.
Her friend, Lauren Smyth, said Ms O’Brien “wouldn’t be here with us if a sixth-floor deck hadn’t broken her fall.”
She suffered a broken leg, ribs and tailbone and is recovering in hospital.
Imelda O’Brien fell eleven floors from her apartment building and is lucky to be alive
Ms Smyth said while Ms O’Brien, who is originally from Dublin, received help from friends, she faced financial difficulties as she was on the long road to recovery.
“Her whole body is extremely bruised and she is in a lot of pain physically and mentally,” Ms Smyth said.
‘Because Imelda works as a self-employed person, there is absolutely no income coming in; bills and rent still have to be paid.
‘Moreover, Imelda is not allowed to leave the hospital, because someone always has to be with her to take care of her.’
On Sunday, Ms Smyth launched one GoFundMe campaign to bring her family to Australia from her native Ireland.
She suffered a broken leg, ribs and tailbone and is recovering in hospital
Mrs. O’Brien on an unrelated balcony
“The aim… is to help her mother and her partner fly over so they can take her home and get her the help she needs,” Ms Smyth said.
“(As well as) the cost of flights and a place to stay for her family while they arrange everything for her.”
As of Monday afternoon, the campaign had already raised nearly $3,000, with some people donating as much as $250.