Google Maps [19659005] (CNN) – To celebrate her 29th birthday Katie Malone, tied to parasailing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on June 9, has prepared for an adventure over water.
The first minutes went well. But at some point in the ride, Malone saw that the boat pulling her was pretending in one direction and that she was flying in the other direction, approaching the land. The line connecting them was broken, she realized.
Her terrifying flight ended when Malone crashed about 45 minutes later at an airport nearly 3 km away, her brother Brendan Malone told CNN on Thursday
. with a broken pelvis, four broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a blow on the left side of his face, he said.
But her sister is alive.
After 18 days in a Mexican hospital, Malone returned to the United States Tuesday for further treatment at the UCSD Medical Center in San Diego. She has had three surgeries up to now, and she stays in the hospital and she is fine, the family said.
"We are going higher and higher and she is doing it so well and so well," said Brendan Malone. 19659012] "She is very lucky to be alive"
Despite the injuries, the accident could have been worse for Malone. At one point, she approached one of the station's balconies – so close that she could hear people screaming.
After the line connecting her to the boat broke, she began to descend the coast. From previous skydiving experiences, she knew how to use her feet as an anchor, so she grabbed the rope with her feet, put her hands in the air and headed the parasail the best she could with his feet, said his brother
. She prayed all the time for her safety, she especially feared to break her arms and legs, "says Brendan Malone.
She fainted for about 20 minutes.
Even after the Malone crash, there were more problems. Her brother said that an alligator was near the fence near the spot where she landed, and rescuers had to scare the beast to reach it. When her family told her about the alligator, Malone said that she "laughed and thought it was hilarious," says Brendan Malone.
Later, his family watched the video of the terrifying flight that was filmed by one of his friends. "Sidona, Malone's mother, told CNN, HLN's sister network." It was great to see her, she's very lucky to be alive and we're really grateful for that. "
Duncan D. Hunter and his father, former US representative Duncan L. Hunter, helped facilitate Malone's return to the United States
Brendan Malone said his sister was" in a good mood "during his stay at the Mexican Hospital
"It was amazing, throughout her stay, the doctors and nurses were asking her the level of pain was – and she would say 8-10," he said. said. "When she was ready to enter the ambulance (to begin her journey back to the US), doctors and nurses kept asking her about her level of pain, she said. She did not feel any pain. "
According to Brendan Malone, the family received offers of help from you. lawsuits against the parachuting company.
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