Airbnb: a tourist from Brasilia who became paraplegic gives a long rant

Brasilia tourist Daniella Maia, 42, who became paraplegic after falling from the railing of a house rented by Airbnb in Itacaré (BA), struggles daily to recover. And with each day of struggle and wheelchair therapy, the heart aches with the desire for freedom and hugs when getting up. The journey gained new momentum after the court ordered the platform to pay monthly medical fees for the treatment.

“What I miss most is the freedom I had, just leaving the house, taking the car, going to the mall, taking my son to pick him up from school, working… In the past, I had two jobs, I always had to participate in my son’s school activities. In my free time, I liked going out with my friends, going to the beach, diving. I always liked being in contact with nature, hiking, horseback riding,” says Daniella.

Daniella is married and has one son. “I miss hugs a lot, the hug you give standing up is not the same as when you are in a chair. You can kiss your son, every morning you give him a big hug when he comes back from class. Hug your husband, prepare lunch, dinner for the family. Dreaming of going on a cruise, camping. There are many things that I loved to do and I still wanted to do and now I am limited,” he laments.

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The accident occurred during a family vacation, in January 2025. Daniella was living with her husband and son in Australia, but decided to stay in the Federal District (DF) during the initial phase of convalescence at the Sarah Kubitschek Hospital, a benchmark in rehabilitation treatment.

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“Little by little, I am improving and becoming more independent, but I still need help with trivial tasks, from going to the toilet to leaving the house. Because, even though our city is a capital, it was not built for wheelchair users. It is only when we go through this that we feel how difficult the life of wheelchair users is,” he commented.

Daniella is currently focusing on rehabilitation, along with Sarah Kubitschek, professionals and caregivers. Health professionals helped a lot. The patient also got stronger, underwent physiotherapy and received psychological support. But he can’t help but feel sad as he thinks that the month of 2026 is approaching, which will mark the first anniversary of the fall and the beginning of the struggle.

“It’s not cheap. My husband had to sell his business in Australia to come to Brasilia and help me. We are both unemployed and waiting for a solution. My challenges are daily. I always try to see the positives, but the mundane things like brushing my teeth, sitting on the couch, getting in the car, I all depend on someone for help. And we don’t know what it will be like when we get home,” she said underlined.

Dreams

The loss of movement in her legs has made her lose many dreams, but Daniella seeks to strengthen them in search of new horizons. “My dream, before all this, was to open my bathing and grooming business. I was saving money and now that will no longer be possible, because I will no longer be able to take care of animals, especially larger ones. I admit that I only think about my recovery, because I can no longer realize many of my dreams,” he emphasizes.

Daniella hopes that the courts and public authorities will take action to ensure that cases like hers do not happen again. “My family searched for a property on Airbnb precisely because we trusted the service. I never imagined that my vacation would have such a result. Responsibility is also important for these platforms, to commit to stricter security regulations, to avoid similar cases and to guarantee that the accommodations are truly suitable for welcoming tourists,” he emphasized.

In a preliminary ruling, the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT) ordered Airbnb to pay Daniella’s monthly medical expenses until the final judgment of the case, where she seeks compensation of 12 million reais. The average amount of first aid can vary between R$20,000 and R$40,000, but can change depending on the patient’s condition.

According to lawyer Davi Souza, representing Daniella, the injunction is of 2nd instance and was issued by Judge Roberto Freitas Filho, of the 3rd Civil Chamber. “We are requesting that the effects of guardianship be brought forward so that Airbnb can cover Daniella’s medical expenses,” he explained.

Daniella has lived in Australia since 2013, where she has a husband and a son. There he worked in two florists. But since the fall, he has returned to live in Brasilia to rehabilitate, until he can return home. There is therefore no health insurance in Brazil. According to the decision, the Brasilia native will have to submit monthly medical expense reports and Airbnb will have to bear the costs. “We’re not talking about compensation yet. We’re talking about reimbursement,” he said.

Daniella tried to resolve the issue amicably. The platform is insured for 1 million US dollars. The company reimbursed R$470,000 for the Brasilia native’s initial treatment, including surgery and hospitalization. But the conversations have not evolved.

The fall

The accident happened shortly after the family returned from a day at the beach, which Daniella described as the “best day of the trip”. While talking on the phone with her Australian husband, she leaned against the balcony railing of the rented house and unexpectedly fell from the deck. Daniela rolled until she was stuck in barbed wire. The fall left her unconscious. It was her cousin, Raquel Serrati, who is a nurse, who started the first aid.

“I remember finding her unconscious and making strange sounds. That’s when I supported her head and neck to prevent any movement, I even took her cell phone and spoke to her husband who was very worried to hear the whole dynamic,” she said.

The place had no cell phone signal, only internet, which made the situation even more difficult. The family had to run out of the condominium to make the emergency call. The Mobile Emergency Service (Samu) took around an hour and a half to arrive at the scene of the accident.

THE Metropolises contacted Airbnb. The platform indicated that “the case is still pending before the courts” and that “Airbnb will comply with the court decisions relating to the case, taking appropriate measures following the final judgment.”