Massachusetts Nurse Stranded in Costa Rica After Hiking Accident

A nurse from Massachusetts is currently stuck in Costa Rica following a serious hiking accident that left her with a fractured vertebra and temporary paralysis in her legs.

Chiara Diaz, 29, was enjoying the final day of her vacation with friends when she decided to explore an unfinished mansion called El Milo, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the town of Jaco.

Unfortunately, during this impromptu adventure, she inadvertently stepped back off a ledge she wasn’t aware of, as her brother, Gindenber Diaz, explained. The fall resulted in a fractured collarbone and spine, requiring her to be hospitalized in Costa Rica while she recovers.

Gindenber emphasized that her priority is to return home to the United States. “That’s the most important thing,” he mentioned.

According to her friend Samantha Cruz, emergency services took about two hours to reach Diaz after the 911 call was made. Both of Diaz’s friends, who are also registered nurses, worked to stabilize her until help arrived.

“They spent two hours on the floor, taking turns stabilizing her spine because they didn’t want her to move at all. At that point, they didn’t know the extent of her injuries,” Cruz recalled.

Now, Diaz’s family is in a challenging situation as they try to arrange her transport back to Boston for surgery. The complexity is exacerbated by the lack of travel or health insurance, as her brother pointed out that she had canceled her insurance to switch to a new provider, which she hadn’t secured before the trip.

Doctors have informed Diaz that flying is currently not an option, and she is scheduled for surgery in Costa Rica on Tuesday. The recovery process is anticipated to be lengthy, even after the surgery.

Cruz has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise awareness and funds for Diaz’s return home. She reported on the limited medical care Diaz received initially, describing how she was “lying in the hallway, unsupervised” upon her arrival at the hospital.

Diaz’s mother and brother have since flown to Costa Rica to support her, but it remains uncertain when she will be able to come back to Massachusetts.

“My serious injury in another country made an already overwhelming situation even more difficult,” Cruz shared.

She noted that Chiara has dedicated her career to caring for others as an ER nurse, and now it’s time for the same support to be extended to her in her time of need.