LONDON: WHEN pretty Abigail Baragry fell  eight floors   from a balcony, doctors didn't expect her to survive.

Baragry, 30, faced death after breaking virtually every bone in her body and medics warned her devastated family that even if she miraculously pulled through, she might never walk.

Yet today -- following four months in hospital and 13 operations, Baragry, from Sheffield, says the terrifying incident has changed her life for the better.

And incredibly, she credits the accident -- which she believes was a twist of fate -- for meeting the love of her life, surveyor James Coupe, also 30.

"Having my fall has put my life in perspective and incredibly I have never been happier in myself."

Her life was turned upside down on New Year's Day, last year.

The psychology graduate was working as an arts therapist with children with special needs at a centre in Kuala Lumpur.

She recalls: "It was 2am in the morning and I had been partying, seeing in the New Year with a few drinks with friends. I felt dizzy and ran to the balcony.

"All I wanted was some fresh air but as I reached the balcony, I slipped in my heels and the next thing I knew I found myself hanging over the balcony, my hands gripping the rail.

"Everything seemed to happen in slow motion," she said.

"Then I saw my hands slipping, It was as if they were not my hands and I realised I was going to fall.

"I later discovered I had fallen through two canopies and a satellite dish on the way down."

Her condition was so critical that it took surgeons 10 hours in the operating theatre to stabilise her condition.

"My pelvis was cracked in two places, my broken jaw was wired, my right wrist was crushed and doctors believed they might have to amputate my right leg."

The next two weeks passed as a blur as Baragry fought for her life in intensive care.

Days and nights rolled into one as she lapsed in and out of a coma. Because she didn't have health insurance, her father, Antony Baragry, 60, a business director, shelled out STG40,000 (RM198,000) in savings to pay for treatment.

Worse was to come when doctors explained she could lose her right leg and she would probably spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

After four months in the Malaysian hospital she was finally discharged in a wheelchair but decided to come home to the United Kingdom with her mum.

Against all the odds Baragry's leg was saved. But her legs were so badly damaged she could only get around in a wheelchair.

"Doctors said my wrist was so badly injured I would never write again but I forced myself to use a computer."

Her determination paid off and gradually Baragry was able to haul herself out of a wheelchair and walk using crutches.

And in November, last year -- after being persuaded to go to a local pub for a drink -- she met James.

"We clicked straightway. We never stop making each other smile and laugh. He's my soulmate."

Although she faces further surgery to her leg, Baragry believes her near death experience has had a positive effect on her life.

"If you had told me I would be happy with all these scars I'd never have believed it."

Baragry now intends to go back to work and hopes one day to return to Malaysia.

"Before this ripped my life apart I was about to do more studying in counselling and psychology.

"What's happened has fuelled my ambition to continue with this to help others. DM