A depressed student who survived a catastrophic skydiving accident is now suing medical professionals for £15 million, claiming they failed to properly screen her mental health.

Story Highlights

• Emma Carey survived a 14,000-foot fall during 2013 skydiving accident, defying expert predictions
• Student pursuing £15 million lawsuit against doctors and Skydive Buzz Ltd for inadequate mental health screening
• Case raises critical questions about medical liability in extreme sports participation
• Incident highlights dangerous gap in pre-activity psychological evaluation protocols

Medical Screening Failures Spark Legal Battle

Emma Carey’s legal action centers on allegations that medical professionals failed their fundamental duty to properly evaluate her psychological state before approving her participation in high-risk skydiving activities. The case exposes a troubling reality where medical gatekeepers may be rubber-stamping dangerous activities without adequate mental health assessments. This represents a clear failure of the medical establishment’s responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals from making potentially life-altering decisions while suffering from depression.

Depressed student sues skydive firm for £15million after breaking her neck in parachute jump saying they should not have passed her fit https://t.co/pNhSE0Arq7

— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) November 5, 2025

Miraculous Survival Against All Odds

The 2013 accident resulted in both Carey and her instructor falling approximately 14,000 feet when equipment failed during what should have been a routine tandem jump. According to MIT engineering professor Dr. Peko Hosoi, Carey likely hit the ground at speeds between 30-60 mph, slowed from peak velocities exceeding 125 mph. A U.S. skydiving team member emphasized the extraordinary nature of her survival, stating that impact at such speeds is equivalent to a serious car accident.

Both Carey and her instructor sustained severe injuries and required immediate hospitalization. The accident left Carey facing uncertainty about whether she would ever walk again, necessitating extensive rehabilitation and ongoing medical care. The instructor also suffered significant trauma, highlighting the catastrophic consequences when safety protocols fail in extreme sports operations.

Watch: I Shouldn’t Be Alive | Emma Carey Survived Skydiving Accident

Industry Accountability Under Scrutiny

This case follows concerning precedents in skydiving litigation, including the Turner family’s $40 million victory against a Lodi skydiving facility where an uncertified instructor caused a fatal accident. Courts have demonstrated willingness to pierce corporate veils and hold operators personally responsible for safety failures. The Emma Carey case could establish new standards requiring comprehensive mental health screening before high-risk activities.

The £15 million compensation claim against Skydive Buzz Ltd and medical professionals represents more than individual justice—it challenges an industry that may be prioritizing profits over participant safety. This lawsuit could force fundamental changes in how extreme sports operators approach medical clearance procedures, particularly regarding psychological evaluations that could prevent tragic accidents.

Sources:

Emma Carey: The skydiver who survived a 14000-foot fall
Vegas skydiving instructor and student accident report