I broke my leg in half after jumping off a pier into shallow water – now one leg will always be shorter than the other, make no mistake
A woman who jumped off a pier into shallow water and broke her leg has revealed that one limb will now be permanently shorter than the other.
Leone Morrison, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, enjoyed a day out with friends at Cullercoats beach last summer.
After seeing others jump off the 15-foot pier, the 22-year-old decided to give it a try too.
Although she was nervous, the call center agent had jumped off cliffs and waterfalls before on vacation, so she thought she knew how to do it “safely.”
The first time, Leone landed safely in the water – but she wasn’t so lucky when she decided to do it again.
Leone Morrison, of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was left with one leg shorter than the other after she jumped off a cliff into shallow water and broke her leg in half
By the time she was back on the pier and ready to jump, the tide was out and she unknowingly fell free into shallow water, “breaking her leg in half.”
Now she walks crooked because her legs are different lengths and is sharing her ordeal on social media, with 65,000 views on one video, in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of “tombstoneing.”
Tombstoneing is the activity of jumping off high cliffs into the water while keeping your body straight.
“I got disoriented and tried to swim away, dragging myself forward with just my arms because my leg felt so strange,” Leone said.
“When I lifted it, there was a sickening click and a sharp pain shot through me.
“The shock of the impact must have taken some of the pain away at first, but then I was in pure agony.
“I didn’t want to get out of the water in case it got worse.”
She claims five lifeguards came to her rescue, before putting her on gas and air and then on a stretcher.
The 22-year-old remembers people jumping off the 15-foot pier into the ocean, and since it looked fun, she tried it out too
In an effort to draw attention to her traumatic ordeal in July 2022 and the dangers of cliff jumping in the summer, she took to TikTok
In the clip, Leone is shown jumping off the pier, before she can be seen puffing on gas and air while being attended to by paramedics
Leone, confused about what had happened, was told that the coast had disappeared when she jumped, making the area unsafe for this activity.
When the ambulance arrived, she was sent with a blue light to the nearest hospital to have extensive x-rays, where they confirmed she had broken both bones in her left shin.
She said, “I felt like throwing up because I had also broken my spine and damaged my knee, and also broken my tibia and fibula. But I’m thankful because it could have been much worse.’
To highlight her traumatic ordeal in July 2022 and the dangers of cliff jumping during the summer, she took to TikTok.
In the clip, Leone is shown jumping off the pier, before she can be seen puffing on gas and air while being attended to by paramedics.
Now walking crooked because her legs are different lengths, she’s been sharing her ordeal on social media, with 65,000 views on one video, in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of “tombstoneing”
She claims five lifeguards came to her rescue, before putting her on gas and air and then on a stretcher
Users have flocked to the comments section to share their horror after witnessing the events.
Laura said, “I’ve worked in spinal cord injury centers before. I beg people not to do this.” (sic)
Amber wrote, “Well done, you didn’t lead the way. Get well soon.’
One person added, “Jesus Christ, I’m so glad it wasn’t worse. hope you recover soon.” (sic)
Another person said, ‘Babeee you were so brave!! Good to pay attention to this now that summer is starting! X’ (sic)
Nat added, “Really important message and you are soooo lucky. I bet the pain was terrible.” (sic)
Another person wrote, “It’s called tombstoneing for a reason. Hope you recover soon, lucky guy xx’. (sic)
She has since undergone a four-and-a-half hour surgery to fuse her bones back together with a metal rod, as well as physical therapy, and is on medication to help with her PTSD and anxiety.
Now she tries to find the bright side of her situation and claims she will never jump off a cliff into the sea again – but most of all she is thankful to be alive
Leone said she has nerve damage through the bottom of her foot, a quarter of her leg and her knee
She has since undergone a four-and-a-half-hour surgery to fuse her bones back together with a metal rod, as well as physical therapy, and is on medication to help her PTSD and anxiety.
Now she tries to find the bright side of her situation and claims she will never jump off a cliff into the sea again – but most of all she is thankful to be alive.
Leone added: ‘It’s been tough as I have nerve damage through the bottom of my foot, a quarter of my leg and my knee.
“I’m still in a lot of pain and the wind affects me too – when it’s cold it’s the worst and when I’m too hot it hurts too, it’s quite affected by the temperature.
“I also can’t bend down on my knee and I have to be careful not to put pressure on it or carry too much weight through it.
“My leg has also gotten an inch longer which affects my hips and the doctors can’t shorten it so it will stay that way for the rest of my life.
“I walk with a waddle and have a three-inch scar that extends from my shin to the top of my knee.
“I don’t speak to the (friends I was with that day) anymore, which is weird, but they didn’t interfere with me and it’s made me so much happier not having to deal with that.
“I think something positive comes out of this when other people tell me they’ve learned from me.
“A lot of people came to me from my TikTok and then my mom also posted a status on Facebook which was well received.
‘The sun is shining again now and I know everyone is thinking about their holidays – but I want to warn everyone: please don’t do what I did, it’s just not worth it.
“I’m lucky enough to be able to walk, let alone be alive today.”