A snowboard accident that resulted in life-saving surgery was a blessing in disguise, British tourist Bianca Stares says.
The 23-year-old lacerated her spleen when she crashed on the Remarkables skifield in Queenstown three weeks ago.
Miss Stares, who is from Southampton, was helicoptered directly to Southland Hospital for surgery.
But despite suffering the worst pain she has ever experienced, she said the dedication of medics and support from friends and family meant the overall experience had been a positive one.
''I can now say I have been blessed as opposed to being unfortunate,'' she said.
''From the brilliant friends who I had huddled around me, to the immediate medical staff member who came running up the mountain, the medical centre staff, wonderful helicopter volunteers Dan Bentley and his co-workers, to the fantastic nurses, and the surgeon, Julian Speight.''
Surgery included putting her spleen back together and fastening it into a mesh bag, after draining 1.5 pints of blood from her abdomen.
Miss Stares said she was stunned by the care she received as she progressed through the New Zealand medical system.
Physiotherapists, the anaesthetist, St John health shuttle drivers, hospital receptionists, pharmacists and ACC case workers all tended to her like a newborn baby, she said.
Miss Stares, in her first season on the snow, crashed after looking up to see friends on a ski lift over her head.
''I was in and out of consciousness. I could just see colours flashing around and had huge pain to the abdominal area.''
Miss Stares, in town on a working holiday visa, is slowly working her way back to health. - Mountain Scene
