A 22-year-old Berlin, New Jersey man remains in intensive care after jumping nearly 100 feet into the sea off Italy’s Amalfi Coast on Oct. 5, according to his family and Italian news reports.
Jacob Fleig was vacationing with his fiancée at Fiordo di Furore, a narrow coastal inlet known for its small beach beneath a bridge, when he jumped from the coastal road above the water. He struck the water in a bad position and suffered a cut to his back, Italian outlet RaiNews reported.
Emergency crews took him to a hospital before he was airlifted to Salerno. The day after the fall, his injuries were classified as serious but not life-threatening, RaiNews reported. His brother, Jimmy Dorner, said in a GoFundMe update this week that Fleig has since undergone multiple life-saving procedures and surgeries.
“Currently, our main priority is getting him medically stable and strong enough to be transported back to America where he can continue with future surgeries, therapy and ongoing care,” Dorner wrote.
A cousin wrote on Facebook a day after the incident that Fleig was in a medically induced coma at the Salerno hospital, with his mother and brother traveling to be with him. She said Fleig had proposed to his girlfriend shortly after the couple landed in Italy — and she said yes.
Dorner described his brother as “a light in every life he encounters,” pointing to his humor and charisma as traits people notice right away.
“Jacob has persevered through many adversities in life and has always come out a stronger man,” Dorner wrote.
Fleig is currently studying electrical engineering, according to his LinkedIn profile. The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $47,000 toward its $50,000 goal as of Saturday afternoon.
Fiordo di Furore sits on the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast and draws tourists and professional divers alike; Italy’s tourism board notes that trained divers leap from the cliffs during organized events. The broader coastline also draws thrill-seekers who jump from rocks and bridges, the New York Post has reported. A woman slipped and fell at the same cove in 2023 in a widely viewed video, and a local resident quoted by the Post has criticized the area’s heavy tourist traffic.
Government agencies warn that hidden rocks and shallow water can cause serious injury or death, and advise against diving into unfamiliar water or ignoring posted local warnings.
Fox News Digital reported it had reached out to Fleig’s family for comment.
