I broke my spine jumping into a lagoon from a 35ft cliff during a dream holiday

A grandmother who broke her spine jumping into a lagoon from a 35ft cliff in Jamaica has spoken of her excruciating injury that will affect her for 'life'.

Maggie Ricketts, 63, of Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, was enjoying her dream £2000 holiday to Jamaica with her family in May 2020 on a trip to a lagoon.

But disaster struck when Mrs Ricketts built up the courage to leap off a cliff into the water - only to land in a position which felt like 'hitting a brick wall' and left her with a fractured spine.

She had to be carried out by partner Peter Wood, 67, and was left bed-bound without help for the entire two-week holiday as her insurance didn't cover water sports injuries.

Mrs Ricketts has now said she feels 'so stupid' about the accident and the injury will affect her for the 'rest of her life'.

Disaster struck when Mrs Ricketts (pictured) built up the courage to leap off a cliff into the water - only to land in a position which felt like 'hitting a brick wall' which left her with a fractured spine

She had to be carried out by partner Peter Wood (left), 67, and was left bed-bound without help for the entire two-week holiday as her insurance didn't cover water sports injuries

She said: 'I was in so much pain I couldn't walk. It felt like I had hit a brick wall. It was horrendous. I have never felt anything like it. I couldn't get my breath - I thought I was going to drown.

'I stayed in the hotel room for a lot. The holiday was ruined. I was absolutely gutted. I kept wondering what I did but I couldn't do anything until I got home.

'I had an x-ray when I got home and they told me I had fractured my spine. They couldn't believe I had been walking around for two weeks.'

Her partner, daughter Charlotte Edwards, 35, and her grandchildren all completed the jump without incident.

Mrs Ricketts added: 'I am frightened of heights but I thought, "I am going to do this".

'I climbed up on to these rocks and stood on the platform. When I jumped, instead of putting my legs straight when I landed, I had my legs out.'

Mrs Ricketts (left) has now said she feels 'so stupid' about the accident and the injury will affect her for the 'rest of her life'

She said she was 'in so much pain I couldn't walk. It felt like I had hit a brick wall. It was horrendous'. Pictured with partner Peter Wood (left)

Her partner and holiday rep swam out to bring her to shore after realising something was wrong.

But as the family weren't insured for sports injuries, she wasn't able to go to hospital to receive treatment.

She said: 'I would just stay in the hotel as I was in so much pain. There were so many things that I missed out on but I couldn't join in and be part of the family.

'I encouraged them to go as I didn't want them to miss out on the fun. We paid £2,000 each it was a lot of money that was wasted.'

Mrs Ricketts went to Stepping Hill Hospital for an x-ray when she got back - which revealed she had fractured her spine.

She said: 'They couldn't believe that I had been walking around on it for two weeks.

'They fitted me with a back brace. I had to wear that for a few months. I am still on painkillers to this day as I now suffer from back problems.

'I feel so stupid that I put my legs up, I don't know why I did it. This is going to affect me for the rest of my life. It is really painful.'