A Massachusetts ER nurse is stranded in Costa Rica after a terrifying hiking accident left her with a fractured spine and temporary paralysis.
Kiara Diaz, 29, was enjoying the final day of her vacation with friends on Friday when they decided to take in the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from El Miro, a long-abandoned, never-finished mansion overlooking the city of Jaco.
Tragically, during the last-minute adventure, Diaz “stepped backward” without realizing there was a 15-foot drop behind her, according to her brother, Gindember Diaz. The fall fractured her spine and collarbone, leaving her temporarily paralyzed from the waist down.
Emergency crews took about two hours to reach Diaz after her friends, both registered nurses, called 911. In the meantime, they stabilized her on the ground, taking turns to ensure her spine remained immobile. “They didn’t know the extent of her injuries at that point,” said friend Samantha Cruz.
Diaz remains hospitalized in Costa Rica as she recovers and awaits surgery. Doctors have said she is currently unfit to fly home, and she was scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday. Even after the procedure, she faces a long road to recovery.
The situation has been made even more challenging because Diaz does not have active travel or health insurance. She had canceled her previous policy and was in the process of securing a new one when the accident occurred. Her family is now navigating the overwhelming costs and paperwork required to bring her home to Boston for further care.
Cruz launched a GoFundMe to keep supporters updated and help cover expenses. She shared that Diaz received “very limited medical care” initially and had even been lying in a hallway without proper monitoring.
Diaz’s mother and brother have flown to Costa Rica to be by her side, but it’s still unclear when she will be able to return to Massachusetts. “Being seriously injured in another country has made an already overwhelming situation even harder,” Cruz wrote.
“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.”