Cliff fall man is fighting back

The Dutchman who fell off the cliffs at Għajn Tuffieħa last weekend has been dubbed the ‘miracle man’ by doctors as he fights to recover from multiple head injuries.

It is still too early to assess if he has sustained lasting damage, but friends of Dennis Van Asch, 31, said his progress had defied medical expectations, and he was moved from Mater Dei’s Intensive Care to the Neuro Surgical Ward on Friday.

Just over a week after he fell 21 metres and was dramatically airlifted to hospital, Mr Van Asch is aware of his surroundings and able to communicate with friends and family, even displaying his trademark sarcasm on occasions.

Though confined to bed, the Marsascala resident is apparently moving his limbs and neck so often that friends and family have to encourage him to rest.

He flits in-and-out of sleep and doctors say he has a long way to go as he has still not recovered from head injuries completely, but “his speech and movement is incredible considering what happened,” said close friend and former housemate Jeff Muscat, who was with Mr Van Asch when he fell.

The incident occurred on April 20 at a sunset barbecue organised by Mr Muscat for fellow enthusiasts of ‘Couchsurfing’ – an online network which connects travellers with open-minded locals to share experiences and even their homes.

Twenty-two multinational couch surfers witnessed a “magical” sunset next to Għajn Tuffieħa Tower, and the air was filled with sounds of laughter and the smells of sizzling meat when tragedy struck at around 9.30 p.m.

Close to the edge of the cliffs, Mr Van Asch – who was not drunk – began walking towards a female friend to give her his jacket, but she looked away for a second and suddenly he disappeared.

At first she thought it was a prank, but confusion soon turned to panic as the group began to suspect he had fallen.

Mr Muscat called the emergency services as five others grabbed lanterns and scrambled down to the shore, finding their friend lying semi-conscious on the rocks.

“If they hadn’t found him and stayed with him, he could have easily slipped into the water and drowned,” Mr Muscat said.

Around two hours after his fall, Mr Van Asch was airlifted to hospital.

Ever since, the couchsurfing community has rallied round to support Mr Van Asch and his family.

“It is a very traumatic time for them but seeing how much he is loved by all his friends has helped them to cope,” said Mr Muscat.

Under the heading ‘Message of hope’, Mr Muscat also contacted online couchsurfing groups across the world asking them to show concern for Mr Van Asch.

He has received hundreds of supportive online replies so far, with many concerned strangers asking for updates and people from as far away as China promising to post letters to Mr Van Asch.

Kirsty Pike, a British couch surfer at the barbecue, said: “We were not a group of drunken foreigners being reckless near the cliffs. It was a small gathering which ended tragically, and it could have happened to anyone”.

Send Dennis a message of hope: Dennis Van Asch, c/o I.T.U, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida MSD 2090, Malta.