Home / Disasters and Accidents / Nurse Stranded in Costa Rica After 15ft Fall
Nurse Stranded in Costa Rica After 15ft Fall
10 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Massachusetts nurse fell 15 feet, fracturing spine.
- Injuries caused temporary loss of feeling in legs.
- Family seeks medical flight due to lack of insurance.
A vacation turned into a medical emergency for Kiara Diaz, a 29-year-old nurse from Massachusetts, who is currently stranded in Costa Rica. Diaz suffered a fractured shoulder and spine after falling 15 feet through the floor of an abandoned hotel.
The fall, which happened during a hike near Jaco, caused her to lose feeling in her legs temporarily. Her brother reported that she has a fractured T-11 vertebra and soreness in her T-12, requiring surgery to stabilize her spine.
Her family is scrambling to arrange a medical flight to bring her back to the United States for treatment, but the extensive injuries make air travel impossible for now. Complicating matters further, Diaz lacked travel and health insurance at the time of her injury.
