NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
May 28, 2026- A California woman is recovering from devastating spinal injuries after an ATV accident during a birthday trip to Mexico left her paralyzed from the waist down and sparked renewed concerns about emergency medical care for uninsured American tourists abroad.
According to multiple media reports, 28-year-old makeup artist Nina Bakshi was celebrating her birthday in Cancun when the ATV she was riding on during a guided jungle tour flipped while crossing a wooden bridge.
The crash reportedly threw Bakshi through the bridge railing and into a ravine nearly 22 feet below.
The horrifying fall was allegedly captured on video by Bakshi’s own cellphone, which had been recording at the time of the accident.
Bakshi reportedly suffered severe fractures to her neck and spine. In interviews following the crash, she said she remained conscious throughout the ordeal but immediately realized she had suffered serious injuries because she could not properly move or breathe after impact.
Friends and relatives told media outlets that there was no immediate ambulance response at the scene. Workers and bystanders allegedly carried her out manually on a board before transporting her by vehicle for nearly an hour to the nearest hospital.
She was initially taken to PlayaMed Hospital before later being transferred to Hospital Azura, where Bakshi claims doctors refused to perform emergency spinal surgery until approximately $24,000 was paid upfront. Bakshi reportedly did not have travel insurance.
Friends and relatives allegedly pooled money and maxed out credit cards to secure the payment needed for surgery. She eventually underwent major spinal surgery more than 28 hours after the accident.
Doctors later told Bakshi she was fortunate to have survived the fall, reportedly because leaves and vegetation below helped cushion the impact.
Although early reports suggested she might avoid permanent paralysis, more recent updates indicate Bakshi is currently paralyzed from the waist down. It remains unclear whether the condition will be permanent.
She has since been discharged from the hospital and is reportedly staying at an Airbnb in Mexico while preparing for a medically assisted return to California. According to reports, an air ambulance was financially out of reach.
Bakshi has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, travel costs, and repayments to friends and relatives who helped finance the emergency surgery.
The incident has triggered widespread discussion online about the risks Americans can face while traveling abroad without insurance, particularly during adventure tourism activities such as ATV excursions.
Some social media users criticized what they described as inadequate emergency response systems and safety protocols at the tour site. Others noted that private hospitals in many countries, including the United States, may require large upfront payments from uninsured patients before treatment.
Travel experts routinely advise international travelers to purchase travel medical insurance before trips abroad, especially when participating in high-risk recreational activities.
