India Origin, a 21-year-old student preparing to attend the University of California, Berkeley, suffered paralysis from the waist down following a fall at a fraternity party in April. The incident occurred at the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity House on April 19th, around 1 PM, when Bandna Bhatti slipped down some outdoor stairs.
A report from Fox KTVU indicated that after her fall, she did not receive appropriate medical attention for about seven hours before anyone called 911.
“She can’t walk. She can’t move,” her mother, Sukh Bhatti, shared with KTVU.
What happened?
According to her family, Bandna was attending a fraternity party on CAL Day, an annual open house for freshmen and their families, when she fell roughly 12 feet, landing in a narrow hallway outside the house. She hit her head during the fall and remained unattended for 15 minutes until friends discovered her, as reported by her family to KTVU.
Rather than contacting emergency services, her friends took her back inside the fraternity house, where they were allegedly told to leave the party with her. Unaware of the seriousness of her condition, they brought her to a nearby apartment, according to family claims.
Eventually, a friend called 911.
In addition to paralysis from spinal fractures, Bandna sustained several severe injuries, including leaks of spinal fluid, a broken scapula, and cerebral hematomas.
“She is currently hospitalized. These injuries not only alter your life but also demand extensive ongoing medical care, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation,” her family noted, emphasizing that she had just three weeks left before graduation with a degree in Data Science.
The university provides support
In the meantime, UC Berkeley and the fraternity have pledged support for Bandna’s family and friends.
“UC Berkeley is aware of ongoing police investigations concerning reports of injuries to students at fraternity events. Our thoughts are with the affected students and their families during this time. We are actively following our protocols to aid those involved,” the university stated.
“Our thoughts are with these individuals and their loved ones during this difficult period. The health and safety of our community remain our top priority,” said Matt Arnold, CEO of the National Phi Kappa Tau organization, in a statement to the New York Post.
