The factory worker who became Chile's first blind senator
Fabiola Campillai was blinded when she was hit in the face by a tear gas cannister. After months in hospital, she came out fighting and decided to take on Chile’s political class.
In 2019, Fabiola Campillai was working in a factory where her husband Marco worked as a lorry driver. They were leading a quiet life in Santiago raising their children when a tear gas cannister changed the course of Fabiola’s life. The cannister, fired by a police officer, left her permanently blinded with multiple life-changing injuries. After spending months in hospital, Fabiola came out fighting. She had no political background, but helped by Marco, she decided to stand for election as a Senator, and won.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Gaia Caramazza and Maryam Maruf
(Photo: Fabiola Campillai with her husband Marco. Credit: Chile Today/Boris van der Spek)
Podcast
-
![]()
The Outlook Podcast Archive
True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives
