Sydney skydiver survives French Alps crash at 120km/h

Sydney skydiver survives French Alps crash at 120km/h

A Sydney skydiver has miraculously lived after a shocking crash landing in the French Alps saw him break nine bones and damage multiple organs.

Miles Cottman was 'speed flying' - a combination of skiing and paragliding - earlier this month when a tree clipped his parachute, sending him tumbling to the ground at about 120km/h.

The 27-year-old was transported by air-ambulance to Grenoble University Hospital in France, where he has had four operations but will miraculously survive.

Sydney man Miles Cottman is lucky to be alive after a horror 'speed flying' accident in the French Alps

The 27-year-old was performing a mix of skiing and paragliding when a tree clipped his parachute while he was travelling about 120km/h

Mr Cottman, a professional skydiver, spent a week connected to tubes, and only returned to eating on his own on Monday - ten days after the accident.

He is expected to make a full recovery, his older sister told the Sydney Morning Herald, despite his early prognosis of never being able to walk again, and the low survival rate of similar crashes. 

'He was under sedation, had a breathing machine [when his mother first arrived after the accident],' she said.

'From what we thought was going to happen last week to now, with Miles expected to make a full recovery, is pretty amazing.

'We really feel like we've had miracles that he's going to walk and not h ave brain damage.' 

The daredevil is a professional skydiver, and had told his family what he would be doing

He has had four surgeries since the accident in a French hospital and has broken nine bones

Doctors initially believed the man would never walk again, but he is now set to make a full recovery

Mr Cottman spent a week on breathing tubes (pictured) and only began eating solid food again on Monday, ten days after his accident

While Mr Cottman's survival can be described as nothing short of a miracle, equally as astounding is the amount his family have been able to raise through their GoFundMe page.

As the Sydney man is a dual citizen of Australia and Germany, he believed he did not need travel insurance, and his grievous injuries combined with the foolish mistake has left his family in financial hot water.

Mr Cottman's medical bill is expected to exceed $100,000, but so far the family have raised nearly $65,000 towards his treatment. 

His sister Emily has donated $10,000 towards her sibling, and many others have given in excess of $1,000.

The Sydney woman has been posting r egular updates on her brother's condition through the page - as well as pictures of the humourous hairstyles his mother has given him each day.

Emily says her brother is still 'sleeping through most of the day' and that doing as little as sending a text is exhausting him.

But despite the struggle ahead, his family have held on to one astounding fact. 

'We are mystified and eternally grateful that he is alive,' Emily told followers on behalf of the clearly beloved family. 

Mr Cottman was described by his family as a 'beautiful, kind hearted, lover of life with the impulse control of poorly trained Labrador'.  

Mr Cottman (pictured) is seen in hospital with a humourous hairstyle given to him by his mother

His family say they are 'mystified and eternally grateful that [Miles] is alive'

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