Gifted dancer, 12, loses her arm in horror trampoline fall but says ‘my bravery and determination will get me far’ as she vows to compete again
- Vienna Hayers had her lower right arm amputated after a trampoline accident
- But refusing to be cowed, the 12-year-old said she is ‘getting stronger every day’
- Vienna was playing at home in Sharnbrook, Bedford, on June 10 when she fell
- Her mother Michelle Hayers has stayed with her at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Sitting up in bed with a big smile, Vienna Hayers is determined she will soon be dancing again.
The 12-year-old has been through a life-changing experience that would leave many older patients utterly devastated – her lower right arm had to be amputated after a freak trampoline accident.
Refusing to be cowed, Vienna said she was ‘getting stronger every day’.
‘I will be back to dance before you know it,’ she said from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. ‘I’m hoping to get back to competing by working hard. My bravery and determination will get me far.’
Vienna Hayers, 12, (above) had her lower right arm amputated after a freak trampoline accident at her home in Sharnbrook, Bedford, on June 10
Vienna was performing a flip on a trampoline (file photo) when she landed heavily on her arm, breaking her elbow. Surgeons had to remove the limb as blood could not reach her right hand
Vienna was performing a flip on the trampoline in her garden when she landed heavily on the arm, breaking her elbow. Surgeons eventually had to remove the limb because blood could no longer reach her right hand.
Her mother, Michelle, described the last few weeks as a ‘rollercoaster’ but added: ‘She is determined this will not stop her.’
Vienna, who began dancing when she was two, was playing at home in the village of Sharnbrook, near Bedford, on June 10 when she fell.
She was taken to Bedford Hospital before being moved to Great Ormond Street. She has had eight operations, and faces more, but surgeons were not able to correct the circulation problem.
Mrs Hayers, 46, a teacher, is the only family member who has been allowed to stay with her because of coronavirus.
The gifted dancer has refused to be cowed by the life-changing experience, saying she is ‘getting stronger every day’ as she recovers at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Her father Gary, 45, who runs a Youtube channel to train electricians, has also visited and has spent time with Vienna’s brother Fin, 14, adapting the house for her return.
Mr Hayers said he was in tears as he spoke to Vienna before the amputation – and she was comforting him.
He said: ‘You wouldn’t believe it if you’d heard what she’d said. It was an amazing speech. She will bounce back.’
Vienna, who must now learn to use her left hand, began dancing at Elev8 Studios, an academy in Bedford, a decade ago and is now an assistant in baby classes, a soloist and a member of their competition team.
Two crowdfunding pages have raised more than £12,000 between them for Vienna.