A worker at a popular tourism resort in Western Australia's remote north who fell down a waterfall has made a "miracle" recovery just a week after she was "touch and go" in an induced coma.
Lauren Cowie, 25, who works at El Questro in the East Kimberley, has told family members she is desperate to resume her job in the red-gorge country she's grown to love since moving from Victoria earlier this year.
Last Tuesday she was relaxing with co-workers on their day off, in a pool at the top of a waterfall at Champagne Springs, one of El Questro's many attractions.
However, she slipped on rocks and tumbled down the waterfall, hitting her head on the way.
Ms Cowie was taken by helicopter to Kununurra Hospital and then airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital with serious head injuries.
Family told daughter 'touch and go'
Her family — who live in Victoria's Yarra Valley — were told Ms Cowie was in an induced coma, while they were dealing with a prolonged power blackout at home brought on by wild weather.
"We didn't even know if she'd make [it through] the night."
According to Ms Cowie's sister, Olivia, a doctor at Royal Darwin Hospital told the family that her head injuries included multiple skull fractures and internal brain bleeding.
"They did have to prepare Mum and Dad for the worst. It was touch and go for 24 hours," she said. "We were not sure if she would survive that night."
'Miracle girl' wakes up
The family, helped by an "army of friends", then went about the "nightmarish" task of organising their travel to Darwin, while Melbourne was in the midst of another coronavirus outbreak.
They were placed in 14-day quarantine in Darwin's Howard Springs facility and given special permission to visit Ms Cowie once a day.
Before their first visit, her doctor gave another update on her condition, saying she had dramatically turned a corner.
"The doctor said, 'I'm actually calling you because we're amazed with how much she's responding'," Olivia Cowie said.
Family kept at a distance during visit
After the family's initial COVID-19 tests came back negative, they took a "COVID-taxi" to the hospital.
Ms Cowie was taken out of ICU and wheeled into a hospital courtyard where the family could safely be with her, but not touch her.
"We were very emotional and overwhelmed to see she'd made it through and woken, and she was awake and talking," Narelle Cowie said.
Lauren 'can't wait' to return to work
Ms Cowie is now on track to be discharged from hospital within days, while her family have been allowed to finish their quarantine early.
Her mother said her daughter's positivity had never wavered.
"The doctors are just amazed at how quickly she responded."
Narelle Cowie plans to stay in Darwin with her daughter for as long as her recovery takes.
The family then hopes to visit El Questro and thank Ms Cowie's co-workers who assisted in the rescue.
They include two employees who drove almost 1,000 kilometres to Darwin to be by their friend's side.
"They've been the most amazing support going into the hospital every morning and afternoon because we've obviously been in quarantine," Narelle Cowie said.
Despite the ordeal, the family says the experience has given them a fresh outlook on life.
"We're obviously reunited and stronger than ever," Olivia Cowie said.
"We've always been a closeknit family and this has solidified how lucky we are to have each other.
"We don't want to take life for granted."
