By Jessica Anstice
Renowned Garfield-based German dressage rider Janina Kletke has been fighting for her life in a coma for over two weeks after selflessly attempting to rescue horses from the Bunyip State Park bushfires.
The 35-year-old woman sustained a severe head injury in the early hours of Monday 4 March after she responded to a client’s phone call asking if she could rescue four horses from a nearby burnt property.
After she was escorted in her truck to the Garfield North property by CFA crew at about 2am, Ms Kletke was injured while loading the fourth horse onto the float. It is believed she fell off the ramp of the truck.
She was found unconscious near the trailer and immediately she was taken to The Alfred Hospital’s intensive care ward and has been kept in the ICU in an induced coma since.
A GoFundMe page was kindly started by her family and friends to assist Ms Kletke through this tough time as it’s going to be a long road ahead for her and her partner Ash financially.
“Janina is an extremely respected accomplished dressage rider and horsewoman here in Australia,” Ms Kletke’s close friend Jacqui Librio said.
“Our main mission now is rallying the community together to dig deep and donate so she has access to the best medical care, rehab when required, and care for her beloved animals and the running of their property in Garfield in her absence.
“Janina is extremely strong willed and strong minded and she is showing sheer grit and fight as we speak.”
Ms Kletke’s career started off in show jumping as a rider but she decided to switch her focus to dressage during her apprenticeship as a bereiter.
“Over the past two weeks I have heard from her closest friends and family that her skills, knowledge and ability she has with horses and all animals actually is nothing short of extraordinary,” friend Karlie Thexton added.
The GoFundMe page has raised almost $23,000 by 229 people people in six days.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/ugcubz-janina-kletke.
