/ 13 May 2005

Elderly woman plunges nine floors, lives to tell tale

A 70-year-old woman fell nine floors from her Florida apartment balcony, but miraculously had her fall cushioned by an awning and suffered just a bruised shoulder and light injuries, United States media reported on Thursday.

The free fall occurred on Wednesday after she reportedly experienced a dizzy spell.

The lucky pensioner said she might have been fatigued as she had spent the night packing her travel bags in order to return to Chicago from her Fort Lauderdale holiday apartment.

Her 27m plunge was broken by the awning, which partially collapsed under her impact. – Sapa-AFP