A Massachusetts ER nurse’s dream vacation turned into a nightmare when a fall from a scenic overlook in Costa Rica left her paralyzed and unable to come home.
29-year-old Kiara Diaz was spending her final day abroad when she slipped and plunged nearly 15 feet while exploring the El Miro lookout, a crumbling former hotel popular with hikers. The Worcester nurse suffered devastating injuries — including a fractured spine and both collarbones — that have left her unable to walk.
“She just wants to get back to the United States. That’s the biggest thing,” her brother, Gindember Diaz, told WCVB, describing the family’s frantic efforts to arrange medical transport home.
According to reports, Diaz had stepped backward to take in the view without realizing there was a drop behind her. “It all happened in an instant,” her brother said. “She was just trying to enjoy her last day.”
Her friend Samantha Cruz told NBC Boston that rescue crews took nearly two hours to reach the site — time her travel companions, both trained nurses, used to stabilize her spine and prevent further damage.
“They spent two hours on the ground, taking turns holding her still,” Cruz recalled. “They didn’t know how bad it was — they just knew if she moved, it could be worse.”
Diaz, who works in a Worcester emergency department known for handling traumatic cases, is now on the other side of that experience — a patient in a Costa Rican hospital facing mounting medical bills and a long recovery.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover emergency surgeries, rehabilitation, and the costly medical flight back to Massachusetts. She’s expected to undergo additional spinal surgery next week.
Family members say her condition remains fragile but hopeful. “She’s strong,” her brother said. “She’s saved lives for years. Now, we’re just praying we can save hers.”
Sources: WCVB, NBC Boston, GoFundMe
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