A New Jersey man is critically ill after a cliff-jumping accident during a trip with his fiancée along Italy’s renowned Amalfi Coast.
Jacob Fleig of Berlin Township in Camden County was seriously injured while cliff-jumping at the popular tourist destination on Oct. 5, the Daily Voice reported.
The engineering student has undergone several emergency surgeries and remains in intensive care at an Italian hospital, according to his brother, Jimmy Dorner, who launched a GoFundMe campaign on Oct. 11.
Fleig, who now lives in Berlin, has not had the details of the accident made public. His family has not said how he was hurt or the height from which he fell, the Daily Voice reported.
Dorner said the family’s immediate priority is arranging medical transport to return Fleig to the United States for further treatment.
Dorner portrayed his brother as a magnetic person who makes a lasting impression on everyone he meets.
“Jacob is a light in every life he encounters. His joyous, humorous, and charismatic personality are the first things everyone notices about him,” he wrote.
“Jacob has persevered through many adversities in life and has always come out a stronger man,” Dorner added.
“On behalf of my brother, I am asking for your support, generosity, and prayers; to help with medical bills, medical transport back to the US, and assistance with his care and recovery,” he said.
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The online fundraiser had collected more than $45,000 by Friday evening.
A family friend also urged the public to pray for Fleig, his fiancée, Olivia, and his mother, Kim, in a Facebook post.
“I’ve known Jake since he was in my friend Kim‘s belly and Jake is now 22 years old. Keep Jake, Kim, fiancée Olivia and all family in prayer,” the friend wrote on Oct. 12.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Fleig began studying electrical engineering at American Institute in 2025.
He previously studied biochemistry at Rowan University from August 2022 through January 2023.
The Amalfi Coast is a magnet for adventure-seeking visitors who leap from cliffs and bridges into the sea, even as the activity carries a serious risk of injury.
In 2023, a woman at Fiordo di Furore, a picturesque coastal gorge, appeared to hesitate before slipping unexpectedly, tumbling over the rocks and falling into the water.
Earlier this year, residents voiced anger over the crowds of tourists and cruise passengers gathering at the popular site.
“For the Mayors and administrators of the Amalfi Coast, they like this mess; otherwise, they would have already issued orders to civilize this mass tourism,” local resident Antonio Attianese said.