Jane Bradshaw, 55, from Stockport, was on a family holiday in Tenerife when a sudden, large wave crashed over the harbour pier where she and her husband, Marcus, were walking. The incident resulted in 15 injuries and one fatality.
Recounting the terrifying moments, Bradshaw described being swept into the ocean and managing to reach the surface. She heard screaming and immediately panicked, calling for her husband. Passers-by bravely entered the water to help rescue those caught in the surge.
Marcus Bradshaw fought the tide and, with the help of a rope from his rucksack and assistance from someone atop the 15ft wall, was pulled to safety. Jane, struggling with a broken arm and unable to keep her head above water, was eventually pulled to safety using towels fastened together.
Upon reaching safety, Jane collapsed from the pain of her injuries, which included a broken humerus, eight broken ribs, hemithorax, pneumothorax, a swollen hip, and a large haematoma on her back. She was initially treated at a local public hospital before being transferred to a private facility due to her health insurance.
Bradshaw described her experience in the private hospital as "shocking" and "a living nightmare," citing a "massive lack of care" and incorrect insertion of chest drains. She remained in Tenerife for five weeks due to complications with her lungs that were not adequately treated.
Upon her return to Manchester, Jane was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary's major trauma ward. She expressed immense relief at being under the care of the NHS, noting that staff immediately identified an issue with her chest drain and discovered a fractured pelvis and sacrum.
She highlighted the "mind-blowing" level of care and attention to detail at Manchester Royal Infirmary, contrasting it sharply with her previous experience. A physio's crucial observation that Jane had sustained her injuries in a wave incident, not a surfing accident as mistakenly recorded, led to her receiving vital psychological support.
Jane is now undergoing intensive physiotherapy and trauma-focused psychological therapy through the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance's Major Trauma Enhanced Rehab Service (MTERS). She acknowledges that her mental recovery is the toughest part, still suffering from PTSD and grieving for her former physical capabilities.
She expressed profound gratitude to the NHS staff, her husband Marcus, her daughter, and her close friends and family for their unwavering support throughout her challenging recovery journey.
Will Chellam, Clinical Lead for the Major Trauma Service at Manchester Royal Infirmary, commended Jane's case as an example of the service's effectiveness and the patient's own resilience, emphasising the holistic approach to recovery.
