Berkeley student, 21, paralyzed from the waist down after ‘devastating and tragic’ fall at frat house party

UC Berkeley Student Paralyzed After Tragic Fall

A University of California, Berkeley student, just weeks away from graduating, was paralyzed from the waist down after suffering a “tragic and devastating” fall at a fraternity house party in April.

Bandna Bhatti, 21, slipped and fell from an external metal staircase at the Phi Kappa Tau house around 1 p.m. on April 19. She wasn’t seen by medical professionals until roughly seven hours later when friends finally called 911.

“Our beloved sister, Bandna, only 21 years old, was just three weeks away from graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Data Science — a milestone she had worked so hard for — when our world was turned upside down,” her sister Sonya Bhatti wrote in a GoFundMe page created to raise money for the college senior’s medical care.

“We received the kind of call no family ever wants to get. Bandna had suffered a tragic and devastating fall,” Sonya added.

Bhatti plunged at least 12 feet, landing on a narrow passageway outside the frat house and striking her head on the way down. She lay there for 15 minutes before she was discovered by her friends and taken inside the fraternity house, her family told KTVU.

But people at the frat house allegedly told those who brought her inside that they had to go, the family members said. So Bhatti’s friends, unaware of the extent of her injuries, took her back to her nearby apartment.

Seven hours after she fell, 911 was finally called, the local station reported.

In addition to the paralyzing spinal fracture, Bhatti also sustained other severe injuries, according to the GoFundMe page.

“Including tearing of the dura with spinal fluid leakage, a scapular fracture, and a brain hematoma. She is currently hospitalized,” her sister wrote.

The horrifying accident happened on Cal Day, an annual open house for incoming freshmen and their families.

Police are looking into the incident but are not commenting on the details of the investigation.

The university, meanwhile, said it’s offering support to the student.

“UC Berkeley is aware of an ongoing police investigation regarding reports of a student being injured near or at a fraternity,” UC Berkeley said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Our thoughts are with the student, their family, loved ones and friends during this time. We are following our protocols to offer support to the student and their family.”

The fraternity also offered its thoughts.

“Our thoughts are with the individual and their loved ones during this challenging time,” Matt Arnold, the CEO of the national Phi Kappa Tau organization, said in a statement. “The health, safety and well-being of all individuals in our community remain our highest priority.”

The student’s closest friends ran a half-marathon Sunday in her honor, aiming for a $5-per-mile pledge “to raise vital funds for Bandna’s recovery.”

“Bandna is a brilliant, compassionate, and resilient young woman who has worked tirelessly toward her dreams. Now, she faces a long and difficult road ahead,” the GoFundMe reads.

Her distraught mother swore that someday her daughter would walk again, according to reports.

“She will walk,” she said. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”