Bride who broke her spine in honeymoon fall can walk again

A bride who broke her spine in three places when she fell 30 feet from a balcony on her Corfu honeymoon has learned to walk again.

Carrie-Anne Dudbridge, 28, had been warned she would be paralysed. But a year after the accident, she is about to start work.

Mrs Dudbridge and husband Michael, 30, have pledged to return next summer to Corfu General Hospital in Kavos where she was treated, to thank the medics and locals who helped them.

The newlywed was injured last August when she lost her footing at the Calypso Apartments in Kavos.

The couple, who did not have travel insurance, had €50 left and needed to raise £16,000 to be flown back to Britain. Within 24 hours cash poured in from well-wishers.

Mrs Dudbridge had an operation to fit two metal rods into her spine at King's College Hospital in Camberwell. She starts work as a secretary at a children's centre next week.

She said she would never forget the generosity shown to her: "I'm still very grateful and touched by the campaign to get me home and how quickly the money was raised. It's only been very recently that I've got back to normal in terms of living everyday life.

"I still remember it all - going out on the balcony. At first I had nightmares and sweats, waking up upset. But the last few months have been really good."

After returning to Britain Mrs Dudbridge, from Mottingham in south-east London, was in and out of hospital for treatment for fluid on her lungs. She also suffered anxiety and panic attacks. She said: "It was a bit of a struggle. I've now been given the all-clear and can stop taking painkillers."

The last-minute holiday to Corfu was a surprise present by guests at the wedding on July 31 last year. The couple were flown back by air ambulance firm Mediaviation.