Air hostess’ horror after extreme turbulence breaks her leg in seven places

An ex-Thomas Cooke air hostess has described the excruciating moment her leg broke in seven places after the plane she was serving on suddenly ran into severe turbulence and terrifyingly rose in altitude by 500ft. 

Eden Garrity, 27, was serving passengers with a catering trolley when the aircraft entered a mid-Atlantic hailstorm, causing it to violently increase in height. 

Eden, who worked as a Thomas Cook air hostess between April 2017 and the company’s collapse in September and said she ‘always dreamed’ of a career in the sky, was injured on August 2 shortly after leaving Cuba.

Air hostess Eden Garrity

Eden Garrity, 27, (pictured, left and right) has described the excruciating moment her leg broke in seven places after the plane she was serving on suddenly ran into severe turbulence and rose by 500ft

Eden (pictured, left, with fellow air hostess), who worked as a Thomas Cook air hostess between April 2017 and the company's collapse in September and said she 'always dreamed' of a career in the sky, was injured on August 2 shortly after leaving Cuba

Eden (pictured, left, with fellow air hostess), who worked as a Thomas Cook air hostess between April 2017 and the company’s collapse in September and said she ‘always dreamed’ of a career in the sky, was injured on August 2 shortly after leaving Cuba

Eden's leg pictured following the incident. Eden was thrown to the ground under the crushing force of the plane's sudden rise in altitude

Eden’s leg pictured following the incident. Eden was thrown to the ground under the crushing force of the plane’s sudden rise in altitude

The pilot asked crew members to be seated due to turbulence but before Eden could safely secure the cart and sit down, the plane flew straight into a violent storm, she said.

She said: ‘We hit a massive hail storm. The pilot said to me afterwards that it turned black all around him.

‘It was by far the worst turbulence I have ever experienced as a crew member or a passenger.’

Eden was thrown to the ground under the crushing force of the plane’s sudden rise in altitude. 

She broke her fibula in five places. 

She also broke her tibia, cracked her ankle bone and fractured her foot.

Her shocking injury left her lying on the floor of the plane for an hour while seats were cleared. She was then left in agony for the remainder of the flight, which lasted for seven hours, before she was taken to hospital. 

She said midway through the flight the ‘excruciating’ pain kicked in.

In agony: Her shocking injury left her lying on the floor of the plane for an hour while seats were cleared. She was then left in agony for the remainder of the flight, which lasted for seven hours, before she was taken to hospital

In agony: Her shocking injury left her lying on the floor of the plane for an hour while seats were cleared. She was then left in agony for the remainder of the flight, which lasted for seven hours, before she was taken to hospital

Eden was left with leg injuries

Eden was left with leg injuries

Eden was left with leg injuries following the incident and was unable to walk for two months

Eden broke her fibula in five places. She also broke her tibia, cracked her ankle bone and fractured her foot

Eden broke her fibula in five places. She also broke her tibia, cracked her ankle bone and fractured her foot

Eden said: ‘The pain started when my shoes were taken off and I was put in a splint.

‘We had painkillers and the passengers were amazing to me. Lots of people passed pillows and coats back to make sure I’d be comfortable.’

An ambulance was waiting on the runway at Manchester Airport and Eden was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital for treatment. 

Devastated Eden needed surgery to insert screws and metal plates inside her leg, as well as a huge external metal brace, and couldn’t walk for two months.

She had two operations before being allowed home in a cast on August 11.

Eden may have to have a third operation next year to remove the metal screws in her leg because of the pain. 

Thomas Cook paid Eden in full whilst she was off for before going bust, and she’s still out of work while she recovers.

Eden pictured recovering from her injuries which left her unable to walk for two months. She may need further surgery to remove the metal rods in her leg

Eden pictured recovering from her injuries which left her unable to walk for two months. She may need further surgery to remove the metal rods in her leg 

Thomas Cook paid Eden in full whilst she was off for before going bust, and she's still out of work while she recovers

Thomas Cook paid Eden in full whilst she was off for before going bust, and she’s still out of work while she recovers

But she is still out of work and faces the stress of looking for a new job whilst recovering from the injury.

A spokesperson for the Official Receiver in charge of Thomas Cook’s insolvency said: ‘Former employees who may have had insurance-related claims against Thomas Cook prior to liquidation will now be treated as unsecured creditors.

‘To make a claim against the company in liquidation or against the insurance policy, former employees should contact the Special Managers.’

Eden is still out of work and faces the stress of looking for a new job whilst recovering from the injury

Eden is still out of work and faces the stress of looking for a new job whilst recovering from the injury

Eden's injuries

Eden's injuries

Eden’s injuries. She may have to have a third operation next year to remove the metal screws in her leg because of the pain

The AAIB accident report file explained how the aircraft experienced ‘unexpected severe turbulence’ lasting 90 seconds.

It found the aircraft hit the storm just five seconds after the pilot made an announcement asking all crew members ‘to be seated’.

‘The aircraft encountered severe turbulence resulting in a 500ft altitude gain autopilot disconnection,’ it said.

‘It was accompanied by the sound of hail striking the aircraft’s nose.

‘It resulted in one cabin member receiving injuries to their left ankle.’

 

 

 

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