‘We’ll get home and start real journey’: Adelaide dance teacher Kerry Jordan taking it “day by day” following nightmare Singapore Airlines flight

An SA dance teacher that suffered a serious spinal injury on the nightmare flight just wants to be ‘fit to fly’ home.

Adelaide dance teacher Kerry Jordan, who suffered a spinal injury and lost feeling from the waist down on the horror Singapore Airlines flight, has an uncertain future ahead. But her husband Keith Davis says her small progress so far has been encouraging.

SA dance teacher, Kerry Jordan suffered serious injuries in her horror Singapore Airlines flight. Picture: Supplied

The Marino residents were coming from back from a “fantastic holiday” in the UK when their flight, SQ321, experienced severe turbulence and sent passengers crashing into the ceiling.

Mr Davis said he sustained superficial injuries, including soft tissue bruising and cuts, while his wife suffered a serious spinal injury and had to be rushed into emergency surgery when their flight was diverted to Bangkok.

On Friday, Mr Davis told 7News that the emergency surgery “was successful in terms of the stabilisation of her vertebrae” but the couple were “not setting big expectations at this stage.”

“We’re realistic about her condition in this situation and it’s just making sure that we give Kerry every possible opportunity and support,” he told the network.

Ms Jordan, originally from the UK, is a dance teacher at Mitcham Girls High School and part of the team at Adelaide’s award-winning Restless Dance Theatre, a company that is made up of dancers with and without a disability.

A spokesperson for Restless Dance Theatre said in a statement that the entire team was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

“We look forward to having them both home to provide all the support they need in their recovery,” the statement said.

Adelaide residents Keith Davis and Kerry Jordan were on holiday in the UK and returning home on Singapore Airlines flight.

Mr Davis described Ms Jordan as “a real talent” and a dedicated teacher, whose students were among the first people she thought of.

“She’s a real talent with mentoring and inspiring kids,” he told 7News.

“She said can you get hold of her principal Rosie at Mitcham Girls, because Kerry woke up and her first thought, she worried about all the media, and what that meant for her students at the school.

“I rang Rosie at Mitcham and Rosie said: I knew Kerry would be like that, I knew it.

 “They already had a plan in place to manage that situation with their staff.”

Mr Davis reached out to The Advertiser on Thursday amid a lack of communication from Singapore Airlines, who have since issued an apology to him and assigned a dedicated resource to support the duo.

On Friday, the couple also received a call from Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who spoke with three Australians in the ICU following the Singapore Airlines incident.

The Advertiser understands consular officials are providing assistance to 12 Australians and a permanent resident who remain in hospital.

Kerry Jordan’s passion is dancing. Picture Facebook

Kerry enjoying time on her holiday before the horror Singapore Airlines flight. Picture Facebook

Once Ms Jordan receives the go-ahead from doctors, the pair are planning to have Ms Jordan medevaced to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Speaking from the hospital in Bangkok, Mr Davis said he was encouraged by small signs on Thursday.

“When I saw Kerry, yesterday, it was evident, I think to everyone, that she was in a better space and she was able to converse a bit more freely, she was happy to show a bit more movement in her hand,” he told The Advertiser.

“It’s great to see that after day three. This is going to be day four. Let’s see.”

Mr Davis said there has been no discussion about his wife’s prognosis - their focus currently was to get her “fit to fly”.

“Once we get to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, that’s when we embark on that journey,” he told 7News.

“And how many days, months, years that is, we’ll take whatever gains we can make.”