SHEER COURAGE OF J-1 FALL GIRL
AS TWO MORE OF HER FRIENDS ARE LAID TO REST, SURVIVOR CLODAGH COGLEY’S AWE-INSPIRING MESSAGE OF HOPE
The chances of me using my legs again are pretty bleak.... life is short and I intend to honour those who died by living the happiest and most fulfilling life possible. 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
BERKELEY survivor Clodagh Cogley has vowed to live the ‘happiest and most fulfilling life possible’ as she revealed the extent of her injuries.
The inspirational Trinity College s t udent t ook t o Facebook yesterday to update friends and r el atives on her wellbeing, revealing that she would honour those who died in the tragedy by living life to the fullest – and told others to do likewise.
She wrote: ‘Hey friends, just an update to let you guys know how I’m getting on (slowly catching up with the individual messages I promise!)
‘The fall from the balcony left me with 2 collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, a broken knee, 5 broken ribs and a broken spinal cord... Meaning the chances of me using my legs again are pretty bleak.’
The psychology student f rom Milltown, south Dublin, continued: ‘Not the best odds but I’m moving to a great rehabilitation centre here in San Francisco for 2 months (it has dog therapy :)) and intend to give it everything I’ve got.
‘Who knows maybe legs have been holding me back all these years and I’ll realise my talent for wheelchair basketball.’
In a touching tribute to her friends who were killed in the accident, Ms Cogley said: ‘The thing I’m taking from this tragedy is that life is short and I intend to honour those who died by living the happiest and most fulfilling life possible.
‘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.’
Hundreds of messages of support and awe flooded Ms Cogley’s account as friends wished her well.
Rosie O’Dea wrote: ‘Very inspiring words Clodagh. All thinking of you here and sending you lots of love xxx.’
Another friend Lisa Croke commented: ‘You are an incredibly brave soul Clodagh Cogley. Keep it up xx.’
Grace Carroll wrote: ‘Wow Clodagh, you’re so incredible to have such a positive outlook, all the best in your recovery.’
Clodagh’s father Niall told the Irish Daily Mail last week that he had been planning to travel over to visit his daughter in Berkeley before the accident occurred.
Last week her brother Daragh tweeted author JK Rowling to say his sister was listening to Harry Potter audio books as she recovered in hospital. Ms Rowling responded with a tweet saying: ‘Wishing Clodagh Cogley a very speedy recovery and sending much love to her, her friends and family xxx’
Six students died and another seven were injured when a balcony collapsed during a 21st birthday party in California on June 16.
Eoghan Culligan, Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster and Olivia Burke – all 21 – were laid to rest in Dublin earlier this week.
The funeral Mass will take place today of Lorcán Miller, 21, while a f uneral service took place l ast weekend for Irish-American student Ashley Donohoe who also perished in the collapse.
As well as Ms Cogley, students Jack Halpin, Conor Flynn, Niall Murray, Aoife Beary and Niall Waters are still receiving treatment for their injuries in different Californian hospitals.
NUI Galway student Seán Fahey was discharged from hospital on Monday. The Rathmines native was expected to travel home to Ireland with his family.
Yesterday, the City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Police force yesterday ruled out the possibility of them taking any further criminal action.
But Kevin Dunleavy, assistant district attorney for Alameda County, confirmed his office has begun an i nvestigation i nto the balcony collapse.
Mr Dunleavy said it was a preliminary investigation, at an ‘early stage’, and that prosecutors would investigate to ‘see where it leads’.
‘We will look into it to see if there is anything that would rise to the level of an actual crime,’ the ADA said.
The District Attorney’s investigators will examine the report issued by the City of Berkeley earlier this week.
That report, while stopping just short of stating what caused the collapse, did conclude the beams designed to support the balcony were rotten, and that water had infiltrated the wood.
City i nspectors concluded the beams ‘appeared to be severely dry rotted’.
‘If there is anything there that is criminal the DA will look into it,’ Mr Dunleavy said.
The office of the DA, an elected position, normally starts investigations after referral from another agency, such as the police, but it can start i nvestigations without a referral from another agency.
‘I intend to honour those who died’