Sheffield woman, 23, in coma after skiing accident in Bulgaria

A 23-year-old woman is in hospital fighting for her life after falling into a ravine during a skiing trip in Bulgaria.

Olivia Corbiere, from Aston near Sheffield, suffered serious injuries, including a brain bleed and lung damage, in the accident on Sunday.

According to her mother, Linzi Corbiere, Olivia had to be placed in an induced coma and needed brain surgery.

She said her daughter, an experienced skier, was “lucky to be alive”.

Mrs Corbiere, 46, said Olivia had just celebrated her birthday before flying to Bankso, in southwest Bulgaria, with friends and her sister Phoebe, 19.

On Sunday, the group was out skiing when Olivia came off the ski track and fell 20ft (6m) into a ravine.

Phoebe told BBC Radio Sheffield emergency services were called while people rallied to try and help her sister, who was lying unconscious in the water.

“Random strangers jumped in,” Phoebe recalled.

“This water was freezing, everyone was taking off their jackets and putting them underneath Olivia and on top of her to try and keep that bit of warmth.”

Within minutes, mountain rescue crews arrived and Olivia was rushed to a nearby hospital before being transported to a hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.

“In that moment, it’s pure shock, you don’t really believe that it’s happening,” Phoebe said.

“It’s still a big shock factor to all of us at the moment.”

Mrs Corbiere and her husband Seb, 51, flew out as soon as they could and have been staying in a nearby hotel since.

Mrs Corbiere said her daughter’s injuries included severe head trauma, a broken eye socket, a broken pelvis and three broken vertebrae.

“If Olivia didn’t have a helmet on, she’d be dead right now,” Mrs Corbiere said.

“How she’s not broken her neck, we don’t know.”

On Tuesday, Olivia underwent brain surgery but Mrs Corbiere said any further procedures would take place in the UK once she could be flown back.

A fundraiser has been set up to support Olivia, a kitchen designer, through her recovery and while she is unable to work.

To date, more than £23,000 has been raised.

“We don’t know what her long-term prognosis will be,” Mrs Corbiere said.

“The fundraiser will help immensely.”