Berkeley survivor, Clodagh Cogley, returns to university
Clodagh Cogley was one of seven students who were seriously injured when the balcony they were standing on gave way beneath them as they celebrated the 21st birthday party of Aoife Beary on June 16 in California.
Friends who fundraised to meet the escalating costs of her medical fees have now raised almost €120,000 since the horrific day that changed the lives of so many.
Twelve of the 13 students caught up in the devastating incident were on J1 working visas for the summer.
The Trinity College Dublin psychology student, who lives in the Dublin suburb of Milltown, suffered a broken spine, broken knee and shoulder, two collapsed lungs, and five broken ribs.
She is now in a wheelchair and has been undergoing intensive care at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire since returning home in August.
On her official Facebook fundraising page a posting reveals: “Clodagh has now returned to university in Dublin. She resumed her studies initially while continuing to receive in-patient rehab hospital treatment. We’re pleased to tell you that she’s also now moved back into her family home.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of so many contributors, and the many fundraising events that have taken place and are yet to be staged, we estimate that Clodagh will soon surpass her target to cover short and medium term expenses.
“Solutions to adapt the family house are nearly completed so that she may resume a normal life.” The post adds: “We’re forever grateful to those who gave up so much of their time, resources, and money.
“We’ll never be able to thank everyone individually but we’ll do our best and we hope that the outpouring of goodness and the kindness of so many will linger as a positive legacy to the dreadful tragedy that took six wonderful young lives and that caused such sadness.
“Clodagh will need a lot of support to help her live a happy and fulfilling life. We want to give Clodagh the best start possible as she embarks on this new phase in her life.”
Others injured in the tragedy were Niall Murray, Hannah Waters, Sean Fahey, Jack Halpin, Conor Flynn, and Aoife Beary. Their injuries include a brain injury, a severed spinal cord, shattered knees and elbows, broken limbs, cracked ribs, and punctured lungs.
The six students who died were medical students Eimear Walsh and Lorcán Miller, cousins Ashley Donohoe and Olivia Burke, along with Niccolai Schuster and Eoghan Culligan.
The families of those who died and who were injured are taking legal action against companies connected to the building where the balcony collapsed. A parallel criminal inquiry into the balcony collapse is also under way.
Earlier this year, following her injuries, Ms Cogley wrote: “Enjoy a good dance and the feeling of grass beneath your feet like it’s the last time because in this crazy world you never know when it might be.”
