Massachusetts ER Nurse Stranded in Costa Rica After Devastating Fall
A Worcester, Massachusetts, emergency room nurse is facing a harrowing ordeal after a 15-foot fall during a vacation in Costa Rica left her with a fractured spine and temporary paralysis.
A 29-year-old kiara Diaz was enjoying the final day of a trip with friends on Friday when tragedy struck.The group had ventured to El Miro, a derelict mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the city of Jaco, to take in the scenery before returning home, according to reporting from WCVB.
During the excursion, Diaz inadvertently stepped backward off a ledge, falling approximately 15 feet. Her brother, Gindember Diaz, explained that the fall resulted in a broken collarbone and spine, leading to temporary paralysis in her legs. She is currently hospitalized in costa Rica.
“She just wants to get back to the United States. That’s the biggest thing,” Gindember Diaz stated.
The response to the emergency was delayed, with emergency crews taking roughly two hours to reach Diaz after a 911 call was placed. Fortunately, both of Diaz’s companions are registered nurses and were able to provide critical stabilization while awaiting help.
“They spent two hours on the floor, taking turns stabilizing her spine because they didn’t want her to move at all. They didn’t know the extent of her injuries at that point,” said a friend, Samantha Cruz, to NBC Boston.
The family is now in a desperate race against time to bring Diaz home for surgery in Boston. Though, they are facing critically important obstacles due to the lack of both travel and health insurance.Diaz had recently canceled her previous insurance policy while awaiting a new one that would cover a necessary medication.
Doctors have resolute that Diaz is currently unfit for travel and scheduled her for surgery in Costa Rica on Tuesday. Even after the procedure, a lengthy recovery is anticipated.
cruz has initiated a gofundme campaign to provide updates and solicit financial assistance for Diaz’s repatriation and medical expenses. She described the initial medical care received by Diaz as limited, noting that she was “lying in the hallway without monitoring” upon arrival at the hospital.
Diaz’s mother and brother have since traveled to Costa Rica to be with her, but the timeline for her return to Massachusetts remains uncertain.
“Being seriously injured in another country has made an already overwhelming situation even harder,” Cruz wrote, highlighting the immense challenges facing the family. “Kiara has spent her career caring for others. As an ER nurse, she has devoted herself to helping people heal and feel safe at their worst. Now she needs that same care and support in return.”
Why did it happen? Kiara Diaz fell approximately 15 feet while on vacation in Costa Rica after stepping backward off a ledge at El Miro, a derelict mansion overlooking Jaco.
Who was involved? The primary individual involved is Kiara Diaz, a 29-year-old emergency room nurse from Worcester, massachusetts. Her brother,Gindember Diaz,and friend Samantha Cruz have been key figures in providing details and support. Her companions, both registered nurses, provided initial medical stabilization.
What were the consequences? Diaz sustained a fractured spine, a broken collarbone, and temporary paralysis in her legs. She requires surgery, initially scheduled
