Woman who suffered a 'catastrophic' genital injury on rope swing issues urgent plea
A woman who suffered what her boyfriend described as a 'catastrophic' genital injury during a rope swing excursion has issued an urgent warning after fake fundraisers began appearing online.
Kirsten Lindsey, from Louisiana, was enjoying her first-ever cruise with boyfriend Blake Ford when a holiday activity in Honduras turned into what he called 'the worst experience of our lives'.
According to Blake, the accident happened after what appeared to be a retrieval line was improperly connected to the rope swing.
"As she swung out, the line tightened between her legs just before she dropped, causing a catastrophic injury," he wrote on the couple's GoFundMe page, which was set up to help fund the medical bills and travel costs after she underwent surgery in the US, with Blake previously claiming doctors told them they had 'never seen anything like' her injury.
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Now, after finally returning home, Kirsten has shared an update while asking people to stay alert for scammers attempting to profit from her ordeal
'Don’t let people scam you trying to profit from my injuries'
Taking to Facebook earlier this week on Wednesday (22 July), Kirsten urged: "We are getting reports that there are people setting up GoFundMes under Blake’s name or calling to donate to said 'campaign'.
"WE DO NOT HAVE A CAMPAIGN. We have 1 GoFundMe account & that is it."
She continued: "Please be aware & don’t let people scam you trying to profit from my injuries. Please only use the links that me Blake Ford, or Tara McKinney share.
"I can’t believe I’m even having to get on here to say this. I’m now home finally & trying to get settled in. I want to say thank you a million times to everyone so much for your love & support. It does not go unnoticed."
In the comments, she added that asking for financial help was 'out of their comfort zone'.
Kirsten added in a previous Facebook post: "Please please please keep the negative comments & opinions to yourself. It costs 0.00 to be a decent human being.
"Thank you to everyone for all the thoughts & prayers & everyone who has reached out, donated, etc. It’s very much appreciated. I feel so loved. Long road ahead as far as recovery. But I’m so thankful for everyone who has prayed & donated."
How Kirsten's 'catastrophic' injury unfolded
When the incident unfolded, Kirsten at first believed she'd escaped with only a minor injury.
"She even walked back to our transportation trying to laugh through the pain," Blake explained.
'The pain became unbearable'
But within hours, her condition rapidly deteriorated.
"The swelling became severe, the pain became unbearable, and she eventually needed a wheelchair just to get back to our cabin," he said.
Blake added that the swelling eventually reached 'roughly the size of a baseball', while medical staff onboard treated Kirsten for around 26 hours before the couple opted for an emergency air evacuation to the US.
The evacuation reportedly required a $20,000 deposit, followed by another $30,000 payment after landing in Florida.
The couple also faced thousands of dollars in onboard medical costs before physician fees, medication and procedures were added.
Carnival Cruise Line's response to the injury
A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line previously said: "We are aware of reports regarding a guest who was injured while independently exploring Honduras.
"After returning to the ship, the guest was promptly cared for by our onboard medical team, which provided treatment and facilitated access to additional medical resources.
"While the incident did not occur on a Carnival-sponsored excursion, we remain concerned for the guest's recovery.
"The safety and well-being of our guests is always our top priority."
Rhiannon Ingle