Despite their efforts, Layne had third-degree burns over 95% of her body, her mother said. Natalie Zofkie returned home from the hospital to a hero's welcome Wednesday. 489 were here. Anyone from the public is welcome to donate blood. accidental death and dismemberment insurance, "Unlit bonfire collapse at Texas A&M kills at least 4, injures 25", "Aggie medics recount stories of sorrowful day", "More than memories remain for some survivors of collapse", "Rescuer who helped bonfire victims honored", "A&M spends $292,000 after bonfire collapse", "Gates: Bonfire will not burn in Autumn 2003", "Suits claim A&M tried to skirt Bonfire liability", "Court says A&M is not liable in Bonfire lawsuit", "Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Lawsuits Over Texas A&M Bonfire Accident", "Supreme Court won't hear Texas A&M bonfire appeal", "Texas A&M settles lawsuit over bonfire deaths", "Last of lawsuits over A&M bonfire collapse is settled", "Slideplayer # 7 Editorials & Features When it's OK to have opinion in a story", "The Aggie Bonfire Tragedy Texas Monthly", The Special Commission on the 1999 Bonfire, The Special Commission on the 1999 Bonfire Final Report, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1999_Aggie_Bonfire_collapse&oldid=1142363315, Excessive internal stresses on logs and inadequate wiring strength on ties, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 00:23. I try to live in such a way that I would honor their memories and honor their lives, Davis said. [2][5] The Texas A&M civil engineering department was also called on to examine the site and help the workers determine the order in which the logs could be safely removed, and, at the request of the Texas Forest Service, Steely Lumber Company in Huntsville, Texas, sent log-moving equipment and operators. "Those kids are some of the most resilient kids I see.". [1], The 59-foot-high (18m) stack, consisting of about 5,000 logs, collapsed during construction. Some eyewitnesses say the collapse time was before 2:42 a.m. and that 2:42 was the time of the police report. In that moment, I saw the ground moving and somehow it didnt really get into my brain this thing is falling. Although the cause of the incident is unknown at the time, authorities said they believe the explosion was a result of a flammable material that was poured onto a small fire in a fire pit in the backyard of a residence. [4], Within minutes of the collapse, word of the accident spread among students and the community. [9] Bowen's successor Robert Gates upheld this decision, stating that a "change in the status quo regarding the future of Bonfire would be inappropriate while litigation is still on-going". [2] Ten students and one former student were killed in the initial collapse, while another student died in the hospital the next day bringing the total deceased to twelve. She was walking in the hospital by December. A firefighter who was killed in a Christmas Day car crash while heading to an emergency call was laid to rest Sunday. 2 teens burned in bonfire explosion reunited with medical responders Kaycee Nitta,17, is shown during the UMC Trauma Survivor's Celebration at Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Boulevard, on. She longs to return to the varsity cheerleading squad and sometimes attends practice to be supportive, though its hard to watch everyone else doing what she loves when she cant participate. In a split second, her entire lower body was engulfed in flames and the burning petrol that drenched her clothes was slowly starting to creep up her body. Over 40,000 people lit candles and observed up to two hours of silence at the site of the collapse, before walking to Kyle Field for yell practice. When the flames went out, one of the children or her Im not sure of the story accidentally or purposefully put more gas onto the fire to make it higher, Leigh Chesney said. All rights reserved. The bonfire was set alight in the back garden to burn old furniture, Louise suffered horrendous burns in the blaze, Louise with daughter Georgia Mulbey and partner Carl Dover, The horrific burns which scarred Louise's body, The painful burns needed urgent hospital treatment, Louise recovering from her injuries after the accident in 2017, The burns to Louise's body were extensive, Louise did not know the burns would scar her for life both physically and mentally, Face masks must be worn in pubs to stop Christmas lockdown, says top scientist, Mum weighing 25st who'd never seen upstairs of her house loses half body weight. There were reportedly dozens of. Daniel Hewey, 20, died from his injuries after he was . [18][19] The 5th U.S. Smith and Ritchie were transported to UF Health in Gainesville with non-life threatening injuries, while the other passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Natalie Zofkie suffered third-degree burns that covered most of her body after pouring gas on a fire to make it bigger. He said about 20 percent of the burns they come across at Riley are from the exact same cause but said Natalie's are the worst he's seen. Donations can also be made to "Angels of Natalie Zofkie." She sits in the bathtub to keep warm, a heater on full blast raising the temperature in the bathroom as she shivers. Since Suffering Severe Burns During A Friendsgiving Bonfire Accident, This 19-Year-Old Has Been Sharing The Challenges And Triumphs Of Her Recovery Journey Online, 21-Year-Old Marsy Nicholas Was Months Away From Graduating College And Pursuing Her Dream Of Becoming A Special Education Teacher When She Was Stalked And Killed By Her Ex-Boyfriend In 1983, This 18-Year-Old Aspiring Journalist Got In Serious Trouble With Her High School And Parents For Heading To A Homeless Camp To Interview Their Former Star Football Player, She Was One Of The Highest-Paid Radio Actresses In Argentina Before She Became The First Lady, And She Played A Massive Role In Ensuring Women Were Given The Right To Vote, She Felt That Ballet Was Disappointing, So She Created Modern Dance, And Heres Her Interesting Story, She Has Wax Museums In Her Name Worldwide And Here Is The Fascinating Story Of Marie Tussaud, She Was The Youngest Survivor Of The Titanic Tragedy, Yet She Never Did Watch The Movie Starring Kate Winslet And Leonardo DiCaprio, She Dedicated Her Life To Those Who Did Not Have A Voice, And If Youre Passionate About Making The World A Better Place, You Might Find Her Story Inspirational, She Was A Pirate Who Sailed The Seas Of The Caribbean In The 18th Century. Example video title will go here for this video, Serial killer documentary | Meet the Casanova Killer called 'more brutal than Bundy'. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. It took over a year for her burns to heal, but the scars she has will stay with her forever, both physically and mentally. Only after all of the rescue workers and family members had left the facility did the audience depart. Smith collided with a Toyota Tacoma driven by 30-year-old Natalie Swauger, of Seaside. The Burning Desire of Texas A&M Fifteen years after the horrific collapse that killed 12 students at Texas A&M, the Aggies are once again building -- and setting ablaze -- a monstrous conflagration. I remember getting up to the second layer which is roughly 40-45 feet, Davis said. The man who died after an accident while helping to build a bonfire at a site in County Antrim has been named locally as John Steele. [2], A commission created by Texas A&M University discovered that a number of factors led to the bonfire collapse, including "excessive internal stresses" on the logs and "inadequate containment strength" in the wiring used to tie the logs together. The film details the Bonfire collapse, follows the survivors and honors those who died. [8], For two years, the university pondered options for reinstating the tradition. Two teenagers were injured in Leetown Friday evening -- one grievously -- after a bonfire accident, officers of the Hancock County Sheriff's Office said. As she was at a friends house, she was involved in a bonfire accident. They were both med-flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, where Natalie spent seventy-seven days in the burn unit before going to rehab. "She is definitely a fighter. The gentle dabs of gauze feel like shards of glass on the 15-year-olds cheek. The . You can cancel at any time. "The first time I went to fill my car up since the accident I started screaming in the middle of the petrol station - in that moment I felt so much fear. You don't know you could get burned to a point where you may not live.". The purpose of this page is to keep our community well informed while supporting local businesses & events! One would allow the government to recover past overpayments. James spent over four months in the Vanderbilt Burn Center with burns on 85. Natalie Dempsey, a 21-year-old volunteer firefighter at the Mizpah Volunteer . A color guard stood at attention as the family car pulled into the driveway and Zofkie exited the backseat. 1:17 AM EDT, Sun May 12, 2019, Teen gravely injured at marshmallow roast (2018), a Facebook page for her supporters reported Friday. He stayed with me, instead of going to prom, she said. Car accident in Union County leaves one dead, two injured, 'They got recalled': A health warning has been issued that links to raw shellfish in Cedar Key, Travel magazine names Devils Millhopper best waterfall in Florida. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He considers these things blessings that he knows 12 of his classmates will never experience. Then, she'll get to come home and then, we'll go back to Riley three or four days a week for physical therapy with her," Sarah said. "Seeing her was really, really tough especially when you know how she's always been, which is so spunky, always a light in a room. Natalie said she will home school for the rest of this semester, then plans to return to class for seventh grade in the fall. 2. Both spent months in Nashville undergoing countless surgeries, including skin grafting. "Over the years, I have been terrified of bonfire night and fireworks, but I have a grandson now, and I don't want to miss out on important parts of his childhood. As of Monday morning, the fundraiser has raised more than $86,000. At the Systems Building, Texas A&M leaders erected pictures of the deceased students. At the stadium, fans relit their candles as the Parsons Mounted Cavalry fired the Aggie cannon twelve times, once for each victim. Natalie's mom, Sarah Zofkie, was asleep when she got the call. I was trapped for four hours.. appreciated. It was always a mission to me of, 'Get me out of here.'. "Dr. Hartman says you expect for every percent that she was burned [to equate to] a day in the hospital, so about 94 days. "If the skin grafts take, we're still not out of the woods yet. After five minutes of unimaginable pain, with the help of her youngest daughter Georgia Mulbey, 19, Louise finally managed to put herself out. She doesnt really know how her face looks under the dressing. Zofkies mother, Sarah Zofkie, said her daughter is not expected to require further surgery. The firefighters who treated Zofkie at the scene welcomed her home, leading the parade that provided the Zofkie an escort for the last few miles to her home. The debate was rendered moot when the university discovered liability insurance for the revamped project would cost more than $2 million per year. A GoFundMe was started to raise money for the hospital expenses. [6], The university gave the National Forestry Hero Award to an employee of Steely Lumber Co., James Gibson, for rescuing students. "I wouldn't wish what happened to me upon my worst enemy and I hope everyone out there stays safe this bonfire night.". They were both med-flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee,. I knew I was on fire so I stopped, dropped and rolled. "He told me to call everybody because she was not going to make it," Sarah said. The Glendale Heights Police Department said officers responded to an incident at the 1800 block of Marci Ct. around 10:16 p.m. Saturday. Louise, 39, and partner Carl Dover, 43, had used this method to dispose of old furniture and other waste several times before - but this time he was away with work. Accelerant poured on the fire left both students with severe burns. [17] The plaintiffs pointed to a $2 million liability policy the university obtained in 1996 and accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies that the university obtained for student workers as early as 1987 as proof that the administrators knew of the dangers of the bonfire. 99% of her body was burned in the accident and is now on life support and in a medically induced coma. "I see a lot of success stories come out of Riley for us and our burn team," Dr. Hartman said. But I'm just glad to be out.". Davis went on to graduate, get married and have two children. Then you see her like that, it just breaks a person down," Andrew said. "You go from high to low, almost angry to sad.". That is why medical academy teacher Tyann Thomson and fellow teachers decided to organize a blood drive. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes. We are heart broken, but remain always grateful that she was a part of our lives and world- we just wish it had been for a lot longer with us here on Earth. the Facebook page said. [22] The final lawsuit, filed against two companies that provided crane operators and cranes for the bonfire, was settled in April 2014. "This year, I'm going to face my fears head on surrounded by my family, and speaking out about my accident is definitely a way of helping me accept what's happened.". Building, Texas a & M leaders erected pictures of the accident is! Insulin prices, cap costs at $ 35 for many people with diabetes to. 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