A Worcester nurse, Kiara Diaz, 29, sustained severe injuries after falling down a 15-foot drop during a hike in Costa Rica. According to NBC10 Boston, Diaz fractured her shoulder and part of her spine, leading to a loss of feeling in her legs. The incident occurred near El Miro, an unfinished hotel structure overlooking the city of Jaco.
The accident took place during an annual trip Diaz made with friends, who are also nurses. They sprang into action to stabilize her spine as they awaited help, which took two hours. Gindember Diaz, Kiara's brother, described the ordeal, "It's hard to eat, it's hard to sleep. We're very anxious through all this time," and expressed their urgency to return to the United States, as noted by NBC10 Boston. Unfortunately, the injured nurse is unfit to fly commercially due to her condition.
Costa Rican medical facilities have Diaz scheduled for surgery, but her family is working diligently to charter a medical flight to Boston for her care. "She had pain and she was anxious," Gindember Diaz shared with NBC10 Boston. "All she wanted was to go back to the United States."
Complicating matters, Diaz has found herself abroad without health or travel insurance—having canceled her previous plan when it stopped covering necessary medication. Gindember explained to WCVB, "Unfortunately, I guess she cancelled it before securing a new one, went to another country and got injured." The family now faces both bureaucratic hurdles, and the daunting costs associated with her injury and transport.
Last year's visitor to El Miro, Layla Hadidi, recounted her experience to WCVB as not being particularly hazardous but acknowledged the potential for accidents. "It's definitely off the beaten path. It is. If that's something you like to do, I would say it's a bit more on the adventurous side," she said, as per WCVB.
