The Ground Fell Away: An Autobiographical Study of Surviving a Fall From Height

Abstract

This paper explores the first author’s experience of surviving a fall from height, as preparation for a small-scale phenomenological study with other fall survivors. In May 2018, I fell 20 ft (6.1m) from a mountain path and sustained multiple serious
injuries. By exploring the experience using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the trauma surrounding the fall itself, and reflect on the experience of sharing personal trauma verbally and in writing. Five superordinate themes were established from the data: “Through the medical machine”; “Identity”; “Support systems”; “Coping” and “Aftermath.”