A Singaporean fashion designer faced off with a near-death experience after taking a fall on the slopes of Colorado.

Lynn Ban, known for designing jewelry for clients like Rihanna and Beyonce and for her starring role in the Netflix series Bling Empire: New York, was enjoying an Aspen ski vacation with her family when the fall occurred. According to Ban, she was near the top of the mountain on December 24 when she caught a tip of a ski in the snow, which caused her to face plant. She was wearing a helmet at the time.

At first, the fall didn’t seem to be too bad, but she still got checked out by ski patrol for a potential concussion. She reports that after the assessment, she was initially cleared.

Issues related to the fall didn’t stop there, though.

Ban reports that she had a lingering headache, one that she assumed would improve after a lunch break, with plans to get back on the slopes. That said, a paramedic then suggested that she get a CAT scan to ensure nothing more severe was going on – and she says this suggestion saved her life.

After getting a scan, Ban was told she had brain bleeding and that she needed to be airlifted for emergency care. Ultimately, an emergency craniotomy ended up saving her life.

“There’s a long road of recovery ahead, but I’m a survivor and grateful to ski patrol, the incredible team of doctors and nurses, and the love and support [of] my family and friends,” reads a message from Ban that was posted on social media. Her post was accompanied by photos from the hospital that capture half of her hair shaved off with a prominent line of stitches wrapping around her head.

This situation is reminiscent of the accident that resulted in the 2009 death of Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson and perhaps best known for her role as the mom in The Parent Trap (1998). Richardson took a fall while skiing at Quebec’s Mont Tremblant Resort, and while she refused medical care, she reported a severe headache that developed about two hours after the slip. She died two days later from an epidural hematoma.

Cases of this nature go to show how dangerous falls on the ski slopes can be, showing why skiers and snowboarders involved in accidents should err on the side of caution. While one may feel ‘fine’ after a fall, internal injuries may be present. Don’t skip an assessment from ski patrol, especially if a potential head injury may be involved.

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