This is the tongue-in-cheek moment when a British tourist backflips into the sea, hitting his face on the side of a boat and breaking his nose and jaw.
Macaulay Burke, 28, had flown to Altinkum on Turkey’s south-west coast with nine others for a week-long holiday at a five-star all-inclusive resort.
After relaxing by the pool, the group booked a beach-hopping boat trip along the Didim coast.
Macaulay decided to jump into the turquoise water from the middle deck while his family watched from the roof of the boat.
In the chilling footage, Macaulay does a backflip but smears his face on the side of the ship as he descends before hitting the water.
Terrifying footage shows Macaulay confidently backfliping off the boat, but crashing into the side of the ship on the way down before hitting the water
Shocking images show the injuries sustained, including a broken nose and dislocated jaw
The stunned diver hesitantly swam back to the boat with the help of another passenger, unaware of the extent of the damage.
Shocking photos show the injuries sustained, including a broken nose and dislocated jaw.
He also ripped off part of his right nostril and tore his lower lip from the gumline, exposing his jawbone.
After being hospitalized immediately after the July 19 incident, Macaulay underwent a two-hour reconstructive operation that involved stitching his face back together.
Butcher and gym enthusiast Macaulay said doctors would have determined he would have broken his neck and died on impact had his torso not been so “strong”.
Macaulay, from Warwick, said: “I was so excited to be leaving and had been thinking about it for months.
“It wasn’t a great party vacation, it was supposed to be a relaxing vacation with the family.”
“I did the backflip at the first stop [on the excursion]that was about 25 minutes into the ride.
“We had spent the whole holiday doing backflips in the pool and that was all perfectly fine.”
“As I was doing the backflip, I could see the boat.”
He added, “As I set off I knew it was going to end badly, I didn’t have much time to react.” The boat hit me square in the face.
“I’m lucky I didn’t pass out. I was in the water and I was very dizzy and I knew something bad had happened.
“I smashed my face, immediately broke my nose and ripped my lip from my gums.”
“I dislocated my jaw and managed to tear my gums apart so you could see the jawbone.”
Macaulay is in pain after hitting his head on the side of the boat during a backflip
Macaulay shows off his injuries. He tore off part of his right nostril and tore his bottom lip away from the gumline, exposing his jawbone
Macaulay is being treated in the hospital. Macaulay said doctors determined he would have broken his neck and died on impact had he not had a “strong” torso
Another passenger jumped into the sea and helped Macaulay back to safety.
He was then taken back to shore by speedboat along with his brother-in-law Ainsley Carpenter, 32, where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital.
Macaulay said, “At first I thought I’d be fine and just stay on the boat.”
“I played rugby for years so I have a good pain threshold and have broken my nose several times.”
“But when I looked in the mirror, all I could see was blood. I just swallowed so much blood.
“I knew my nose was broken because it was just really wide and I tore my right nostril.
“It pulled out my nose piercing and I had a flap of skin on my right nostril that ripped and I managed to punch a hole in my upper lip.”
Of the two days in hospital during which he had 50 stitches, Macaulay said: “You did an excellent job in Turkey.” My nose hasn’t been this straight since playing rugby.
“People go to Turkey to have nose jobs done.” I had mine done but in a very different situation.’
He received his medical passport and was able to travel back to the UK on July 22nd.
Although he is on the mend, Macaulay says he has had to repeatedly go to the hospital for facial reconstruction specialists after returning home.
He also claims British doctors told him he was lucky to be alive.
Macaulay with his sister Chelsea on vacation in Turkey. Macaulay said, “It wasn’t a crazy party vacation, it was meant to be a relaxing family vacation.”
Macaulay said he was grateful he took out “last minute” travel insurance for £10.80 on the morning of his flight to Turkey, and pointed out he would have been faced with a staggering £50,000 bill can.
He now urges everyone to take out insurance before going on holiday.
Macaulay said, “I’m not exactly sure how much it all cost me.”
“I’ve heard a few different amounts but I mean you can work out the price from the ambulance ride alone which was £750.”
“I’ve had a facial reconstruction, which is going to cost a hell of a lot.” I’m estimating it’s going to be well over £50,000.
“You have to get insurance even if you think you’re not going to get hurt.”
“I was on a family holiday and it shows that anything can happen unexpectedly and that for £10 you can save a life.”
“I am very grateful to the surgeons and the insurance company for helping me.” It could have been a very different story.’