Melbourne show jumper Jamie Ellis ‘lucky to be alive’ after a horse kicked her in the face, putting her in a week-long coma and leaving her permanently injured
A star jumper who is lucky to be alive after being kicked in the face by a horse has emerged from her coma in hospital.
Jamie Ellis, 27, was in a stable getting ready for a show jumping competition in Boneo, on the Mornington Peninsula, an hour south of Melbourne, last Saturday when she was kicked by the animal.
She was flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where she spent five days in an induced coma before being woken on Thursday – with one of her first questions about her beloved dog Rosie rather than her own condition.
Jamie Ellis has woken up from a medically induced coma after being kicked in the face by a horse as she prepared for a show jumping competition in Victoria
Despite the best efforts of specialist surgeons, Ms Ellis will be permanently blind in her right eye as a result of her injuries.
Her mother Karen Ellis said Friday that her daughter has left the ICU and is speaking, even managing to crack a joke, but that she faces a long and difficult recovery.
‘Today was a good day! Not only did Jamie sit in a chair for most of the day, she also showered and was finally moved out of intensive care,” Ms Ellis said.
‘She is doing so incredibly well. Tuesday will mark the start of reconstruction operations, which will leave her briefly in intensive care again, but her spirits are high and she is dealing with whatever is thrown her way with courage and grace.”
‘So very proud to be her mother.’
Her best friend, Caitlin Stewart, described Mr Ellis as “smart” and a “fighter”.
“She’s lucky she’s not dead,” Mrs. Stewart said The Herald Sun.
“The first thing she was concerned about was (Rosie)… She has a great attitude to life.”
Ms Ellis has a science degree from the University of Melbourne, a master’s degree in biomedical sciences in muscle wasting in patients with disease, and was halfway through her PhD at the same university, which will now have to be postponed.
Ms Stewart said she also works with children recovering from back injuries at the Royal Children’s Hospital and therefore approaches her own injuries and recovery in an ‘academic’ rather than an ’emotional’ way.
Ms. Ellis is well known in the show jumping community and is on the cusp of a long rehabilitation
Ms Ellis, from Blackburn in Melbourne’s east, is well known in the Victorian equestrian community and grew up riding at the nearby Lilydale Pony Club.
Messages of support have been received from Equestrian Victoria, Equestrian Australia, the Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne.
“It’s so good to hear that Jamie has woken up and is talking,” said a friend.
“You have so much love and support behind you! Keep resting and joking, you got this!” added another.
a GoFundMe has been launched to raise money for Mrs Ellis’ long rehabilitation.