Hello everyone,

My name is Marcela Montalva, I’m from Chile, and since February 2025 I’ve been living in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa.

I came here full of dreams, ready to work hard, explore this beautiful country, and enjoy its incredible landscapes and culture, always respecting the environment and giving my best.

For the past few months, I’ve been working a lot, and about 4 months ago I moved to a small and remote town called Ravenswood, in the Australian outback. It’s a place with very few residents, no basic services, and surrounded by a gold mine.

I came here to complete my 88 regional work days, and I was working as an all-rounder in a local roadhouse (service station).

‍ The Accident

On October 15th, 2025, during my day off, I decided to ride my bike to the post office, about 2 km away from where I live.

Halfway there, I was suddenly attacked by a magpie, lost control of the bicycle, and fell hard on the road, hitting the left side of my face on the concrete.

I lost consciousness and later woke up in the mine’s medical unit, without my bike or helmet. From there, I had to be airlifted by helicopter to the Townsville University Hospital, as I was in a very remote area.

My Injuries

At the hospital, scans showed that I had multiple fractures in my left cheekbone (zygomatic bone), including the orbit, the maxilla, and the zygomatic arch.

I also suffered a fracture of the hyoid bone, located in the neck, a rare and dangerous injury.

Doctors told me I was lucky to be alive.

Now, I urgently need facial reconstructive surgery, as I’m struggling to eat and speak properly.

Insurance Refusal

Unfortunately, my travel insurance has refused to cover any medical or surgical costs, claiming that the initial report stated I was found without a helmet.

I’ve tried to dispute this information, but so far I haven’t been successful.

Why I’m Asking for Help

With a lot of humility, I decided to create this GoFundMe. It’s not easy for me to ask for help, but right now, I truly need it.

Any contribution, big or small, will help me cover the surgery, hospital bills, and recovery expenses.

I never imagined something like this could happen to me, I always try to stay safe, but I could have never predicted that a bird attack would lead to such a serious accident.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read my story, for your kindness, and for any help you can offer.

With love and gratitude,

Marcela Montalva