‘Life is short’: Berkeley survivor shares a beautiful tribute

Just over a week after the tragic Berkeley balcony collapse that left six students dead, one of the survivors has taken to social media to share a truly inspirational message.

Writing on Facebook earlier today, 21-year-old Clodagh Cogley revealed that the chances of her walking again were "pretty bleak" but that she was determined to stay positive and to live her life to the fullest.

"The fall from the balcony left me with two collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, a broken knee, five broken ribs and a broken spinal cord," she explained today. 

"Not the best odds but I'm moving to a great rehabilitation centre here in San Francisco for two months (it has dog therapy <3) 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."

Clodagh, who was one of seven who survived the fall but were left with serious injuries, said she will never take the little things for granted again and asked that others live their lives with the same attitude.

"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," she wrote in a moving tribute to her six fellow students who passed away last week. 

"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."

Clodagh's family was told she was lucky to be alive after the accident, and she could have fallen to her death had another student, Jack Halpin not grabbed her and broken her fall.

Jack is currently being treated for back injuries and two broken legs and is making slow but steady progress at the John Muir Medical Centre. 

21-year-olds Conor Flynn. Hannah Waters, Aoife Beary and Niall Murray all remain in hospital, with Sean Fahey given the green light this week to travel home to Ireland in the coming days.

The funerals of Niccolai Schuster and Olivia Burke took place in Dublin today, following a ceremony for Olivia's cousin Ashley Donohue in San Francisco on Saturday and the funerals of Eimear Walsh and Eoghan Culligan in Dublin yesterday.