Student injured in Berkeley thanks public for support

Family posts photos of Clodagh Cogley in San Francisco rehabilitation centre

Dublin student Clodagh Cogley, who was seriously injured in the Berkeley balcony collapse last month, and her family have thanked the public for the “outpouring of support” in the weeks since.

Ms Cogley, from Milltown in Dublin, was one of seven students injured in the Berkeley balcony collapse which claimed the lives of six other students on June 16th last.

The 21-year-old suffered two collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, a broken knee, five broken ribs and a broken spinal cord meaning she may not walk again.

A fundraising effort to help fund Ms Cogley's treatment had raised over €12,000 at the time of writing, funds which the fundraisers say will go towards house adaptations and other expenses.

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In a post on the Clodagh Cogley Fund Facebook page her family extended their thanks for the " support and generosity" of those who had donated.

Having first been treated at the Eden Medical Centre in Castro Valley, California Ms Cogley was later moved to a rehabilitation centre from where her family also posted images of a smiling Clodagh in rehabilitation, one of which includes a picture of her with her “famous” therapy dog.

Posting on her Facebook page last week Ms Cogley gave an update on her progress, but noted: “the chances of me using my legs again are pretty bleak”.

“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,” she wrote.

“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.”

Ms Cogley, who is from Milltown in Dublin, had finished her third year of a psychology degree in Trinity College Dublin before flying to the States on a J1 visa to spend the summer working in California.

She entered Trinity on an academic scholarship on the basis of the “excellence” of her Leaving Certificate results, according to her former school, Alexandra College.

Her father is TV3’s director of broadcast, Niall Cogley, and she is the granddaughter of rugby commentator Fred Cogley.