Tennessee woman injured by dolphin in Jamaica accident

A 28-year-old mother from Tennessee suffered serious injuries in an unusual accident while swimming with dolphins in Jamaica. Cierra Stockard was on vacation with her family when she slipped and hit her body against a dolphin's dorsal fin. Stockard experienced what her sister described as "blunt force trauma." The impact caused a large hematoma, which is a collection of blood outside of blood vessels. After the accident, she was taken to a local hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. In a heartfelt message shared on a fundraising page, her sister explained the severity of the incident. Stockard described the pain as feeling like she was in a car accident. She is now recovering from two surgeries and has received blood transfusions to help her condition. The family is trying to raise $55,000 to bring Stockard back home. They have received donations totaling nearly $20,000 so far. Stockard's aunt has expressed their concerns about her situation, as they struggle to navigate getting help while in a foreign country. In a recent update, Stockard thanked her supporters and reported that she is improving after surgery. However, she is still coping with significant pain. This incident follows another recent event in Australia where a surfer was injured after colliding with a group of dolphins while surfing.