Raina Heverin, 44, fell two storeys into a courtyard after sleepwalking off a balcony in Paris on April 26 of last year. The mother of two was on holiday with her brother and sister-in-law when the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning. She had reportedly complained about traffic noise from her room and had switched bedrooms with her relatives to a quieter one at the back of the property.
Her brother discovered her lying motionless in the courtyard after noticing her bedroom door was open and her shoes were still inside. Heverin was rushed to a hospital in France, where she remained unconscious for three weeks. She suffered a brain bleed, a punctured lung, and broken hip, arm, and ribs. Doctors later attributed her survival in part to her excellent physical condition prior to the accident. She had previously been an active individual, running two businesses and regularly participating in activities such as 10km runs, cycling, and weightlifting.
After two months in a French hospital, Heverin returned to the UK for further treatment. She spent time at Whiston Hospital and Broadgreen Hospital before being transferred to a specialist brain injury rehabilitation unit in November. She was diagnosed with ataxia, a neurological condition affecting balance and coordination, and polytrauma. The fall has resulted in ongoing struggles with balance and tremors in her hands, body, and throat, making everyday tasks challenging.
Heverin described the experience of recovering from the coma as disorienting, with her first memories being of her husband reading to her. She expressed a sense of grieving for her former life while navigating periods of both happiness and sadness. She noted the feeling of being disconnected from the passage of time, stating, "I still feel like I'm in 2025, but it is a year and four months later. The world has kept turning while I've been in hospital."
To help her children, Cian, 10, and Aliyah, eight, understand her condition, Heverin has written a children's book. She has also raised over £4,000 for The Brain Charity by completing a sponsored three-mile walking challenge in her garden, walking 40 laps over four days with support from friends and family.
Reflecting on her rehabilitation, Heverin offered encouragement to others, stating, "Don't give up, keep going. You're going to have some bad days, but you're going to have good days too. There's a life that's worth living."