'I am going to be strong': Chilean model who was left 'paralysed' when she fell from a zipline becomes an online star after posting pictures of her journey towards recovery
- Chilean Bernardita Santa Cruz, 26, was paralysed after falling from a zip wire
- Active model used to post pictures of herself hiking and doing yoga
- She told followers accident left her temporarily paralysed, and hospital snaps
- Bernardita now has more than 24,000 followers as she works towards recovery
A model who was left temporarily paralysed when she fell from a zipline at her home has become an Instagram star after sharing pictures of her recovery.
Chilean beauty Bernardita Santa Cruz, 26, previously shared photos of herself hiking or doing yoga, but they were replaced by pictures of the model in her hospital bed following the accident, which left her unable to sit up for four days.
Now Bernardita has almost 25,000 Instagram followers rooting for her full recovery - including Chilean footballers and TV stars.
Chilean beauty Bernardita Santa Cruz, 26, seen before the accident, used to post pictures of herself hiking or doing yoga
Bernardita (above) shared pictures of herself in hospital on social media, and told her followers about the accident
The model's existing followers were left wondering what had happened when there were no posts on her Instagram feed for several weeks.
Eventually she revealed what had happened on social media through a series of posts, and begged her followers: 'Don't stop coming here to see me.'
She wrote: 'I fell from the zipline at my house and suffered a spinal injury that made me paraplegic.
'It's 11 days now and although it is difficult, I'm being strong. Keep praying for my rehabilitation.'
Her followers were left wondering what had happened when she suddenly stopped posting updates (seen in a photograph taken before the accident)
She later posted a picture of her in a hospital room with the caption: 'After four days, I sat up for the first time'
In earlier messages she revealed she had been unable to sit up for four days after the accident.
'After four days, I sat up for the first time,' she wrote of her rehabilitation at Las Condes in Santiago, one of Chile's top clinics.
'The secret is having the feeling of coming back, that is stronger than the sorrow I am feeling.'
She also thanked her social media followers for their well wishes.
'Thanks a lot for all your support and charming messages recently,' Bernardita said.
'I am going to be strong in order to keep on.'
After a third picture, she explained to her followers what had happened to her and why she had stopped posting
She explained: 'I fell from the zipline at my house and suffered a spinal injury that made me paraplegic. It's 11 days now and although it is difficult, I'm being strong
Her spirit in the face of adversity and her winning smile have won her thousands of new followers on social media - including some of Chile's biggest names
The actor Gonzalo Valenzuela and some of Chile's leading football stars (above, a signed football t-shirt) are among more than 24,000 people who have been supporting her online
Bernardita (seen recovering in hospital) also has the support of her friends who have been visiting her to help cheer her up
Bernardita has said 'wanting to feel the sun and the wind again' helped her to get out of her wheelchair.
Her spirit in the face of adversity and her winning smile have won her thousands of new followers on social media - including famous names.
The actor Gonzalo Valenzuela and some of Chile's top football stars are among more than 24,000 people who have been cheering her on to recovery via social media.
The model's exact prognosis is currently unclear.
Most watched News videos
- Caught on camera: Checkout line fight erupts over couponing
- Drag race ends in Lamborghini crashing into other cars
- Angry motorist challenges traffic warden over 'illegal parking'
- Couponing mom attacked inside store for holding up the line
- Amir Khan's wife Faryal Makhdoom snapchats an 'apology'
- Real-life Amazon Drone delivery begin trials with no human pilot
- Faryal Makhdoom shares glam videos on Instagram
- Huge 7 stone dog has adorable bark that sounds like hiccup
- Poor cat has it's head pushed into the snow by cheeky dog!
- 'Scumbag unions': Chants outside Brighton rail station
- Trump meets with tech giants: 'I'm here to help you folks do well'
- Cute Christmas kitty is very protective of his festive gifts
- EXCLUSIVE: Ex-British ambassador who is now a WikiLeaks...
- Moment an extreme couponer is attacked by a furious customer...
- IBM to hire 25,000 more workers in the US in the next four...
- Growing Pains star Alan Thicke, 69, dies suddenly after...
- 'Take a shot kiddo': Alan Thicke's last words as he was...
- Female German minister REFUSES to wear a hijab during visit...
- Trump teases tech titans: 'Right now everybody in this room...
- Shocking bodycam video shows car theft suspect shooting two...
- 'Oh baby...you're with your boyfriend!' Glamorous Russian...
- 'I really don’t give a s*** about what happens to Huma':...
- 'HBO can shove it where the sun doesn't shine': Father's...
- 'What are you gonna do?' One of five teens accused of...