Yfke Sturm fighting for her life after jet surf accident leaves her in a coma

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London-based Yfke Sturm was on holiday on the Italian island of Ischia
Fell off a jet surf - a motorized surfboard - and tried to swim to safety
But another jet surf rider approached at speed and accidentally struck her
She was airlifted to hospital with a fractured skull and spinal chord injuries
33-year-old new mother now being treated at a specialist hospital in Naples

Published: 03:21 EST, 7 September 2015 | Updated: 09:33 EST, 7 September 2015

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A Dutch supermodel is fighting for her life in an Italian hospital following a dramatic jet surf accident in which she was struck by another rider.

London-based Yfke Sturm suffered a fractured skull, severe spinal injuries and remains in a coma as doctors at a specialist hospital in the southern city of Naples continue to treat her.

Tragically the accident comes just one month after the 33-year-old gave birth to her first child, a son named Alexander.

Ms Sturm has walked the catwalk for huge international brands such as Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Saint Laurent, Chanel and Valentino, and has appeared on a number of Dutch television shows, including hosting Holland's Next Top Model.

Tragic: Last month Yfke Sturm became a mother for the first time to son named Alexander (pictured)

Success: The 33-year-old has walked the catwalk for huge international brands such as Victoria's Secret (left and right), Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Saint Laurent, Chanel and Valentino

Global star: Ms Sturm (pictured left fellow model Petra Nemcova) regularly appears in top fashion publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair

Location: Yfke Sturm is understood to have fallen off a jet surf in the sea off Ischia - an island off the coast of Naples - when another jet surf rider approached at speed and struck her

The accident took place while Ms Sturm was on holiday near the southern Italian island of Ischia.

She is understood to have fallen off a jet surf - a kind of motorised surfboard - and was attempting to swim to safety when another jet surf rider approached at speed and struck her.

The Italian Coast Guard were on hand to immediately rescue her from the water, after which she was airlifted to a regional polyclinic in Naples, where doctors are treating her.

Ms Sturm is believed to be at serious risk of permanent paralysis due to the serious injuries to her spinal chord. She also suffered a fractured skull and remains in a coma.

The model's U.S. representatives have declined to comment on her condition.

Accident: London-based Yfke Sturm suffered a fractured skull, severe spinal injuries and remains in a coma as doctors at a specialist hospital in the southern city of Naples continue to treat her

Early star: Yfke Sturm's modelling career began in 1997 when she was just 15 after being spotted by a scout from Elite Model Management in her hometown of Almere

Friends: YfkeSturm's modelling 18-year long modelling career has gone from strength to strength, leading to her branching out into television work in 2006. Here she is pictured alongside model Raica Oliveira

Heartbreaking: Yfke Sturm (left and right) became a mother to son named Alexander just last month

Ms Sturm fell off a jet surf (pictured) - a kind of motorised surfboard - and was trying to swim to safety when she was struck by another jet surf rider [file image]

A global star, Ms Sturm regularly appears in the top fashion publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair and been photographed by celebrated fashion photographers, including Maria Testino.

Her modelling career started in 1997 when she was just 15 after being spotted by a scout from Elite Model Management in her hometown of Almere. She quickly won a number of Elite modelling competitions, leading to her signing exclusive contracts with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.

Ms Sturm's modelling career has gone from strength to strength over the following 18 years, leading to her branching out into television work in 2006 as the host of the hugely popular prime time show Holland's Next Top Model - the Dutch version of America's Next Top Model.

Although she later left full time television work to focus of modelling, Ms Sturm still regularly appears as a special guest on a number of fashion shows and solidified her presence in the public eye with the 2009 release of Yfke's Model Secrets - a health, fitness and advice guide for models.

Miss Sturm was married for three years to businessman Imad Izemrane but they divorced in 2010. He is now said to be in a relationship with 24-year-old French supermodel Constance Jablonski.