What happened to Leah Matthews?

Leah Matthews, a 32-year-old mum-of-two, fell 130ft from a cliff while trying to rescue her dog, Lola, and suffered multiple broken bones and a punctured lung.

How did Leah's partner Anthony help her after the fall?

Anthony bravely scrambled down the cliff to reach Leah, pulled her from the water, and called for emergency services, which took five hours to safely transport Leah to the hospital.

When will Leah be able to walk again?

Leah was told it would be at least eight weeks before she could stand after surgery, and she will need to undergo physiotherapy to learn to walk again once she can support her own weight, but there is no firm timeline.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Mum Survives Terrifying 130ft Cliff Fall, Faces Months of Recovery

Mum Survives Terrifying 130ft Cliff Fall, Faces Months of Recovery

15 Nov

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Summary

Leah Matthews fell 130ft from a cliff while trying to rescue her dog
Suffered multiple broken bones, punctured lung, and needed major surgery
Faces long road to recovery, must learn to walk again

Mum Survives Terrifying 130ft Cliff Fall, Faces Months of Recovery

On October 4th, 2025, Leah Matthews and her partner Anthony were enjoying a dog walk in Wales' Waterfall Country when a tragic accident occurred. As they were making their way along a footpath, Leah's brother's cocker spaniel Lola veered off the path and started slipping down a bank. Leah tried to use a stick to pull Lola back up, but in the process, she lost her balance and fell over the edge of the 130ft cliff.

Leah plummeted into the river below, suffering multiple broken bones, including eight broken ribs, a shattered hip, three breaks in her pelvis, and a fractured right foot. She also sustained a punctured lung and needed two surgeries and five blood transfusions at the hospital. Leah now faces a long road to recovery and must learn to walk again, a process that could take at least eight weeks.