Melea Casboult: Bendigo woman critical after falling from Wycheproof pub fire escape

A young Bendigo woman is fighting for her life after she fell from a fire escape at a country hotel in regional Victoria.

Melea Casboult was critically injured after reportedly falling from a fire escape at the Royal Mail Hotel, Wycheproof at 2am on Sunday July 11. Picture: Facebook

A young Bendigo woman is in an induced coma after she fell from a fire escape at a country hotel in regional Victoria.

Melea Casboult was critically injured following an accident at the Royal Mail Hotel, Wycheproof, 134km north west of Bendigo, on Sunday July 11.

Her friend Tamika Pilcher said she had leaned on the fire escape’s timber railing which gave way, sending her plummeting 4m to the ground.

The friends had been staying at the hotel after celebrating the Wycheproof Narraport Football Netball Club’s ball.

Ms Pilcher said they returned at 1.30am when she went to bed, leaving her friends chatting on the fire escape.

She woke to her panicked mates trying to save Melea.

“They told me Melea had fallen,” Ms Pilcher said.

Bendigo residents Melea Casboult, 25, right, with her friend Tamika Pilcher. Picture: Contributed

The Bendigo nurse said her training took over as she raced towards her friend.

“I was in shock still … I jumped into it and adrenaline took over,” Ms Pilcher said.

“We did everything we could to keep her safe and comfortable and alive.

“She was still talking to us for a bit when it happened.”

Ms Pilcher said was on the phone to paramedics for 47 minutes as the ambulance drove from Bendigo.

She said the fog meant the air ambulance was unable to make the journey.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said paramedics were called to the pub at 2.25am.

The 25-year-old woman was treated for head and neck injuries and was initially taken to Bendigo Health before being flown to The Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.

A Royal Mail Hotel spokesman said staff had been “shocked and shaken” from the incident.

“It’s all a bit scary,” he said.

“But it’s not about us, it’s about the poor girl.”

Melea Casboult was critically injured after she fell from a fire escape at the Royal Mail Hotel, Wycheproof at 2am on Sunday July 11. Picture: Facebook

Ms Pilcher said Melea’s parents Leighaire and Glenn Casboult are at her bedside in Melbourne.

“It means so much to us to know how many people love her and are with her as she faces this battle,” her parents wrote on Facebook.

“She will be kept asleep for another week or so as they stabilise her, which seems to be the goal in the initial stages of all injuries such as this.

“She has a hard battle ahead of her, but we all know just how tough she is.”

Ms Pilcher said she could not wait until her friend, who she has known since she was five-years-old, returned to her full “vibrant” “happy-go-lucky” “stubborn” self.

“She lights up a room whenever she walks into it,” she said.

“We can’t wait for her to be back ... and laughing about what she put us through.”

Other friends have voiced their love and support for the 25-year-old online.

“Keep fighting trooper,” Cody Turner wrote.

“Sending love and hoping for a full and speedy recovery,” Amy Drummond said.

A WorkSafe spokesman said investigations into the incident were ongoing.