Magpie Attacks Woman While She Was Working Abroad, Leaving Her with a Broken Neck

A woman from Chile was left seriously injured after being attacked by a magpie while working abroad in Australia.

Marcela Montalva had moved to Ravenswood — a small, remote town in the Australian Outback — about four months ago on a temporary working holiday visa, which allows travelers to work while exploring the country.

“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 shared on GoFundMe.

But on Oct. 15, during one of her days off, Montalva’s plans took a devastating turn. While riding her bike to a nearby post office, she was suddenly attacked by a magpie.

“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 recalled. “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.”

Doctors determined that the bird — part of the same family as crows and jays — caused 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 said. “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.”

To cover her medical expenses, Montalva has raised around $7,820 through her GoFundMe campaign, which will help fund reconstructive facial surgery to restore her ability to eat and speak properly.

“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.”