A grandmother spent her dream holiday in bed after fracturing her spine jumping into a lagoon - which she later found wasn't covered by her insurance.
Maggie Ricketts, 63, spent £2,000 on a trip to Jamaica - which was ruined on the third day.
She leapt off a 35ft cliff but didn't hit the water correctly.
Instead of putting her legs out, she hit the water in a sitting position - which she says felt like hitting a brick wall.
Exam invigilator Maggie, from Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, had to be carried out by partner Peter Wood, 67.
And, although she knew she had done something serious, she couldn't get help - as the insurance didn't cover it.
So Maggie spent the rest of the two-week trip in bed, finally getting medical attention when back in the UK.
It was then she was told she had fractured her spine - which has been life-changing for her.
Maggie said: "I was in so much pain I couldn't walk. It felt like I had hit a brick wall.
"It was horrendous. I have never felt anything like it. I couldn't get my breath - I thought I was going to drown.
"I stayed in the hotel room for a lot. The holiday was ruined. I was absolutely gutted. I kept wondering what I did but I couldn't do anything until I got home.
"I had an x-ray when I got home and they told me I had fractured my spine. They couldn't believe I had been walking around for two weeks."
Maggie was on holiday with Peter, her daughter Charlotte Edwards, 35, and her grandchildren in May 2020.
The rest of the family completed the lagoon jump without incident - so gran-of-three Maggie decided to give it a go.
She said: "I am frightened of heights but I thought, 'I am going to do this'. I climbed up onto these rocks and stood on the platform.
"When I jumped, instead of putting my legs straight when I landed, I had my legs out."
Realising something was wrong, her partner and holiday rep swam out to bring her to shore.
But, as the family weren't insured for sports injuries, Maggie wasn't able to go to hospital to receive treatment.
So she got driven back to the hotel - and had to wait to get home.
She said: "I would just stay in the hotel as I was in so much pain. There were so many things that I missed out on but I couldn't join in and be part of the family.
"I encouraged them to go as I didn't want them to miss out on the fun. We paid £2,000 each it was a lot of money that was wasted."
Maggie went to Stepping Hill Hospital for an x-ray when she got back - which revealed she had fractured her spine.
She said: "They couldn't believe that I had been walking around on it for two weeks. They fitted me with a back brace. I had to wear that for a few months.
"I am still on painkillers to this day as I now suffer from back problems. I feel so stupid that I put my legs up, I don't know why I did it.
"This is going to affect me for the rest of my life. It is really painful."
