A nutritionist may be permanently paralysed after hitting her head on a sandbar while diving into the sea.
Flávia Bueno lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital.
The social media star was at the beach with a friend, who had dived in before her.
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The accident happened on 3 January.
Due to the severity of her injuries, she was intubated and transferred to a hospital in São Sebastião, Brazil, for a CT scan.
Doctors discovered she had suffered a serious spinal cord injury affecting three vertebrae, along with a brain injury caused by two mini strokes from arterial blockage following the trauma.
On 4 January, Flávia, 35, was moved to a private hospital in São Paulo, where she underwent surgery to relieve pressure on her spinal cord and nerve roots.
A second operation followed on Sunday (11 Jan).
She is now out of a coma and showing signs of improvement, as reported by Need To Know.
Her brother, Felipe, said: “Thank God she is conscious and in a more stable condition in the ICU.
“She can communicate with us without speaking, understands what’s going on, and recognises everyone.”
However, according to her online fundraiser to cover medical costs, doctors have warned that she still faces a high risk of permanent paralysis.
Flávia describes herself on Instagram as someone who “helps you lose fat while gaining muscle”, and has 153,000 followers.
Before the accident, she regularly shared snaps of her toned physique.
Felipe is now calling on authorities to install warning signs at beaches to alert visitors to the dangers of sandbars.
Speaking of his sister, he said: “Flávia is, above all, a determined woman, with a huge heart for others. She is also incredibly strong.”
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