A woman in Australia, Marcela Montalva, faced a life-threatening ordeal when she was unexpectedly attacked by a magpie. Originally from Chile, Montalva had recently relocated to Ravenswood, a secluded town in the Australian Outback, on a temporary working holiday visa.
Despite her initial excitement about exploring the country’s beauty and culture, Montalva’s plans took a tragic turn on a day off. While cycling to a nearby post office, she was ambushed by a magpie, causing her to lose control of her bike and crash onto the road. The impact left her unconscious, requiring emergency airlifting to Townsville University Hospital due to the remote location.
Medical examinations revealed severe injuries, including multiple fractures to her cheekbone and a rare neck fracture, inflicted by the bird resembling crows and jays. Montalva expressed gratitude for being alive but emphasized the urgent need for facial reconstructive surgery to restore her ability to eat and speak normally.
Despite the financial setback of her travel insurance denying coverage for medical expenses, Montalva has managed to raise approximately $12,000 (AUD) through a fundraising campaign to cover the essential surgical procedures for her recovery. Reflecting on the incident, she expressed shock at the unexpected turn of events and the profound impact of a bird attack leading to such serious consequences.
