A New Jersey man is in critical condition following a cliff-jumping accident during a vacation with his fiancée on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Jacob Fleig, from Berlin Township in Camden County, suffered severe injuries while cliff-jumping at this popular spot on October 5, as reported by local news.
Fleig, an engineering student, has already undergone multiple urgent surgeries and is currently in intensive care at a hospital in Italy. His brother, Jimmy Dorner, shared this information in a GoFundMe campaign that was started on October 11.
Dorner mentioned that Fleig is a resident of Berlin now, but details surrounding the accident, including how far he fell, haven’t been disclosed by family or friends.
The family’s primary focus is on getting Fleig back to the United States for further medical treatment, Dorner stated.
He went on to describe his brother as someone who makes a memorable impact on everyone he meets.
“Jacob is a light in every life he encounters. His joyful, humorous, and charismatic personality are what everyone notices first about him,” Dorner wrote.
“He has faced many challenges and has always emerged stronger,” he added.
The GoFundMe campaign has raised over $45,000 by Friday evening, as they aim to cover medical expenses, transport back to the U.S., and ongoing care.
A family friend reached out on Facebook, asking for prayers not only for Fleig but also for his fiancée, Olivia, and his mother, Kim. They expressed how long they’ve known Fleig and the lasting bonds he has created.
The Amalfi Coast is well-known for adventure-seeking tourists who leap off cliffs and bridges into the waters below, but doing so comes with significant risks.
This year, there was an incident where a woman hesitated on the edge of a gorge, only to slip and fall into the water, highlighting the dangers present.
Local residents have also expressed frustration about the influx of tourists and cruise passengers at these hotspots, suggesting that more control is needed to manage such mass tourism.
Fleig is studying electrical engineering at the American Institute, where he started in 2025, and he previously attended Rowan University, studying biochemistry from August 2022 to January 2023.
