American woman falls from Thailand cliff to escape sex attack

A young New York teacher could possibly be paralyzed after falling from a cliff in an attempt to escape a sexual assault in Thailand according to the New York Post.

23-year-old Hannah Gavios is undergoing treatment for a severe spinal injury at Bangkok Hospital in Phuket after the Sept. 1st attack.

Local police say her attacker has been identified as a 28-year-old worker at a local tourist shop.

After Gavios stopped for directions, the man led her up a pitch-black mountain in the jungle. Gavios initially fought off her attacker, but accidentally ran off a cliff in the darkness.

According to Gavios, the man found where she landed and proceeded to assault her while she lay helpless.

The man later confessed and according to the Daily Mail has been charged with committing obscene behavior toward another person and causing serious injury.

On Tuesday, a relative told the Post Gavios is partially paralyzed from the waist down and it remains unknown whether the damage is permanent.