Woman 'lucky to be alive' after magpie attack leaves her with fractured neck

A woman has been left with multiple fractures to her face and neck after suffering a vicious attack from a magpie while riding her bike. Marcela Montalva, originally from Chile, moved to a small, remote town in the Australian Outback four months ago and has been told she is "lucky to be alive" after the horrific ordeal.

Ms Montalva has been living in Ravenswood on a temporary working holiday visa, which allows travellers to work and earn money. "I came here full of dreams, ready to work hard, explore this beautiful country, and enjoy its incredible landscapes and culture, always respecting the environment and giving my best," she wrote on her GoFundMe page. However, on October 15, her day off ended in disaster when she was attacked while riding her bike to a nearby post office. "Halfway there, I was suddenly attacked by a magpie, lost control of the bicycle, and fell hard on the road, hitting the left side of my face on the concrete," she said.

"I lost consciousness and later woke up in the mine's medical unit. From there, I had to be airlifted by helicopter to the Townsville University Hospital, as I was in a very remote area."

When she arrived at the hospital, doctors discovered that the bird (Gymnorhina tibicen) - a different species to that in the UK but with similar plumage - had caused significant injuries, including multiple fractures to her left cheekbone and a rare fracture of the hyoid bone in her neck.

"Doctors told me I was lucky to be alive," Montalva added. "Now, I urgently need facial reconstructive surgery, as I'm struggling to eat and speak properly.

"Unfortunately, my travel insurance has refused to cover any medical or surgical costs, claiming that the initial report stated I was found without a helmet."

So far, Montalva has raised around AUD $12,000 (£5,900) to help pay for the medical and surgical procedures needed for facial reconstruction.

"I never imagined something like this could happen to me," she said. "I always try to stay safe, but I could have never predicted that a bird attack would lead to such a serious accident," she added.

This comes after a woman, who was described as having a "heart of gold", died after being attacked by a pack of dogs in August. Priscilla Jones, 44, was "attacked and severely injured by a pack of dogs roaming the area" in Flat Lick, Kentucky, the Knox County Sheriff's Department said. Ms Jones was rushed to the nearby Barbourville ARH Hospital, after a woman who knew her called 911, but police said she "succumbed to her injuries" and was declared dead.