", Sarah said Dr. Brett Hartman, medical director of Riley Hospital for Children's burn unit, told her Natalie's burns covered 96 percent of her body. This is probably the most exciting thing I've ever done in my life. It heals through time.. 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. Smith returned home several weeks ago. "I wouldn't wish what happened to me upon my worst enemy and I hope everyone out there stays safe this bonfire night.". 2023 Cable News Network. It just happened so fast, no one expected it, she said. Zofkies mother, Sarah Zofkie, said her daughter is not expected to require further surgery. "[25], Detractors further blamed the school for the accident, saying that, in the name of tradition, administrators turned a blind eye to an unsafe structure being constructed with minimal engineering and safety protocols. Her older siblings brother, Andrew, from Dallas and sister, Sophia, in college rushed home to be by her side. Nov. 18, 2019. will mark 20 years since the nearly 60-foot timber structure . The university agreed to pay $2.1 million and promised that if the bonfire returned to campus that "engineering oversight" would be provided. Bigger, better, tougher? In light of her accident, Louise has retrained as a hair and make-up artist, to help burn victims feel happy with their appearance. On April 20, she arrived home after dark to find lit candles spelling PROM? across her driveway. "Those kids are some of the most resilient kids I see.". She said only the soles of Laynes feet were not burned. On December 1, the newspaper sent a total of $10,000 in two checks as a peace offering to the university, with $5,000 to the Bonfire Memorial Fund and $5,000 to the Bonfire Relief Fund. Once she glanced at the mirror unintentionally, catching a quick glimpse of her right side, the more badly burned side. "It was less than a 30-minute drive, but it felt like we were never going to get there," Sarah said. "She is extremely tough. [18][19] The 5th U.S. She sits in the bathtub to keep warm, a heater on full blast raising the temperature in the bathroom as she shivers. This flyover was donated by US Senator Phil Gramm who, as an elected official, had the title of a flyover reserved for his death and asked that the fly-over be given instead in the honor of the 12 Aggies that died. Smith and two passengers20-year-old Erick Fadness, of Decorah, Iowa, and an unidentified 16-year-old girl . "She is definitely a fighter. 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. Hazel Green High School hosting blood drive to help students burned in fire, 59-year-old Florence man killed after being hit while riding bicycle, Many North Alabama residents experiencing power outages due to severe weather, Girl falls on bungee trampoline at Parkway Place Mall, At least 5 injured in fire-related incident in Hazel Green. HOUSTON A Houston-area survivor of the deadly 1999 Texas A&M University bonfire collapse is recounting his story. Something went wrong, please try again later. Natalie Smith and James Boyle were burned at an outdoor fire in November. 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. Natalie, 11, had been critically burned in an accident around a fire pit at a friend's home. Students at Glenbard East High School sent Korryn Bachner, 15, sent this poster filled with positive messages to her after she was burned in a bonfire accident last month. James Boyle and Natalie Prescott suffered severe burns in the explosion and are still recovering. TAMU president Ray Bowen stated "Texas A&M will not allow itself to become an agent for The Arizona Republic as it tries to manage the public criticism it is receiving. 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. According to Dr. Hartman, Natalie still faces months in the hospital and multiple surgeries. "And thats just something simply that we can do by giving 15 minutes. She doesnt really know how her face looks under the dressing. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). "You go from high to low, almost angry to sad.". The purpose of this page is to keep our community well informed while supporting local businesses & events! Here's what to know. Boyle and Smith remain hospitalized at Vanderbilt Hospital. At the stadium, fans relit their candles as the Parsons Mounted Cavalry fired the Aggie cannon twelve times, once for each victim. "Dr. Hartman says you expect for every percent that she was burned [to equate to] a day in the hospital, so about 94 days. But I'd rather be tortured than be crippled. You need to get to Riley,'" Sarah recalled. He spent months in the hospital following amputation of his left leg and partial paralysis of his right side. And seeing her come home is one of the best things I could have ever imagined.". It was a tradition that spanned decades; students would spend months constructing a massive log tiered tower to be burned on campus before a rivalry football game. The tradition ended after the accident. It was an homage to this years prom theme: a night of a thousand lights. "He told me to call everybody because she was not going to make it," Sarah said. [26] One of the students killed in the 1999 bonfire collapse was under the legal drinking age yet a toxicology test showed high blood-alcohol levels; however, lower readings in a second test and inconsistencies in the initial sampling and annotation methods led to questions about the accuracy of the original tests.[27][17]. Layne Chesney was 14 years old and a star softball player when the accident happened in Fort Pierce. I'm just glad that people came. She has a spirit like nobody else." The Glendale Heights Police Department said officers responded to an incident at the 1800 block of Marci Ct. around 10:16 p.m. Saturday. The task force recommended that students be allowed to participate in building the bonfire as long as they were monitored by professional construction experts. All Rights Reserved. Natalie Zofkie returned home from the hospital to a hero's welcome Wednesday. 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. As many of you know Natalie Smith was in a terrible car accident resulting in some pretty serious injuries to her back and left hip. 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. She recently gained her industry qualifications with the help of her daughters, and can't wait to see where her new career take her in the future. Several people received . "I can't tell you how many times I've poured gas on a fire out of ignorance of the implications. The sixth-grade girl then stood at the sidewalk as more fire engines, police cars and vehicles driven by other supporters filed past the house. While she is expected to make a full recovery it is going to require a lot of help and time from her mom April and dad Michael. [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". The Glendale Heights Police Department said officers responded to an incident at the 1800 block of Marci Ct. around 10:16 p.m. Saturday. She's endured about a dozen surgeries and painful rehabilitation for her skin grafts. 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. [6] John Comstock was the last living person to be removed from the stack. Right now, Boyle needs seven blood transfusions. "It felt like I was burning for a lifetime, and I genuinely thought this is how my life is going to end.". I guess the gas can had about this much left in it, and the fumes are what ignited and caused the fire," Sarah said. The mum of two suffered third degree burns all over her lower body and arms leaving her in need of a skin graft. One would allow the government to recover past overpayments. This was eight days before the fire pit explosion, which she describes as a horrible accident. They decided the best way was to burn it in the back garden using petrol to get the fire going. The collapse time is disputed. The horror fire while she was refurbishing her daughter's bedroom with her daughter's ex-boyfriend, and the two ripped out a wardrobe which later needed disposing of. The annual bonfire, which began in 1909, was the ultimate tradition for many people on Texas A&M's 5,200-acre campus in College Station, about 100 miles . [8], For two years, the university pondered options for reinstating the tradition. [2][4], Of the 58 students and former students working on the stack, 12 were killed and 27 were injured. Her face was still cloaked in bandages and a knit tube dressing, with openings for her hazel eyes, nose and lips. So her friends and her date decided to surprise her by bringing the school dance to her Lombard home, greeting her with a pink bouquet and decorating her family room with a string of white lights. You didnt think it was happening. [15], Parents of students injured or killed in the collapse filed lawsuits against Texas A&M officials, including President Ray Bowen, Vice President of Student Affairs J. Malon Southerland, the 1999 redpots, and the university. The . I was trapped for four hours.. [4], Within minutes of the collapse, word of the accident spread among students and the community. "Shes doing the best she can for the circumstances that they are," he said. They are sharing their story in hopes of saving others from the horrific injuries their little Natalie Zofkie is dealing with now. Example video title will go here for this video, Serial killer documentary | Meet the Casanova Killer called 'more brutal than Bundy'. However, the aftermath of the accident proved equally horrific as Louise suddenly realised the severity of her burns. 489 were here. "Natalie grew up with me and my friends, and so when they all heard, they were devastated," Sophia said. 2021 Chip Chick Media Inc. All rights reserved. Updated [11] An official memorial service was held less than seventeen hours after the collapse. It is been two weeks since sophomores James Boyle and Natalie Smith were injured at an outdoor bonfire. Georgia, who was upstairs at the time, came rushing down to the sound of Louise's screams, and filled up several jugs of water to frantically throw over her mother. Despite their efforts, Layne had third-degree burns over 95% of her body, her mother said. Louise Chadwick suffered 13 severe burns on her shins, thighs, legs, feet, arms . More than two dozen high schoolers filled the home at some point throughout the night, taking pictures and dancing to Ed Sheerans Perfect. Some went on to attend prom later. Most of that is third-degree, meaning through all the layers of the skin and into fat," Dr. Hartman said. After five minutes of unimaginable pain, with the help of her youngest daughter Georgia Mulbey, 19, Louise finally managed to put herself out. They're just like waiting there. The total amount of funds spent by the university on all disaster-related expenses by that date was $292,000. Send an email to angelsofnataliezofkie@gmail.com for more information and to contribute. Accelerant poured on the fire left both students with severe burns. The film details the Bonfire collapse, follows the survivors and honors those who died. Davis went on to graduate, get married and have two children. But when Louise went to pour the petrol over the furniture, she didn't know that Jamie had already got the fire going - and the entire wardrobe burst into flames. [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. A New Hampshire mother is dealing with the death of a child for the second time after one of her sons recently died from a bonfire accident. A color guard stood at attention as the family car pulled into the driveway and Zofkie exited the backseat. The gentle dabs of gauze feel like shards of glass on the 15-year-olds cheek. GoFundMe pages have been set up for several of the victims. Boyle and Smith remain hospitalized at Vanderbilt Hospital. She was airlifted to hospital as a result of her injuries and spent the next two weeks in intensive care. But I don't know if I really deserved all that.". A Carmel Fire Department engine led the parade of more than 50 vehicles Wednesday through a Noblesville neighborhood to escort 12-year-old Natalie Zofkie home from the hospital. [7] By 2000 Texas A&M spent over $80,000 so students and administrators could travel to the funerals of the deceased, including $40,000 so 125 students and staff could attend a funeral in Turlock, California by way of private aircraft; most of the persons on board were students. Its not too bad to talk about, she said. Louise Chadwick suffered 13 severe burns on her shins, thighs, legs, feet, arms, hands and lower torso after starting a bonfire in her garden. 99% of her body was burned in the accident and is now on life support and in a medically induced coma. Photos from the night capture her smiling profile, the contours of her face smooth and unblemished. I knew I was on fire so I stopped, dropped and rolled. [3] In addition to the mutual aid received from the College Station and Bryan, Texas EMS, Fire, and Police Departments, members of Texas Task Force 1, the state's elite emergency response team, arrived to assist the rescue efforts. "One of the worst things you could ever imagine, especially with a little girl. As she was at a friends house, she was involved in a bonfire accident. "She's been here close to a month, and she honestly hasn't batted an eye, so she's doing great.". But burn healing is a long, long process. A woman engulfed in flames for five minutes in a freak accident has spoken of her horror ahead of Bonfire Night. "That's when my pajama bottoms set alight and the flames started to rise up towards my torso. While the pair may have a long journey ahead, they won't make it alone. Then you see her like that, it just breaks a person down," Andrew said. Laynes mother, Leigh Ann Wirz Chesney, told CNN that Layne died Friday morning. Sarah said she wishes she'd had that conversation with Natalie. James returned home from Vanderbilt's Burn Center in April after more than four months in the. [6], The university gave the National Forestry Hero Award to an employee of Steely Lumber Co., James Gibson, for rescuing students. [14] Various organizations also established funds in memory of the victims and to help with expenses incurred because of the accident. A few days after the accident, Laynes mother told CNN affiliate WFOR, that her daughter and friends were roasting marshmallows that night at a friends backyard. Each morning, the mother changes the dressing that covers the burns on her daughters face and neck, examining how much the delicate skin beneath has healed. Shortly after the accident Louise was diagnosed with PTSD, which can be triggered by everyday activities including filling the car up with petrol. The petrol can Louise was holding immediately caught fire and she dropped it on the floor, spilling it all over the grass. In 1999, that game was against the University of Texas. Zofkie reunited with friends who have prayed for months for her recovery. "This is something I never, ever imagined I would ever see in my career, said Morgan. "It appears an 18-year-old boy who lived at the residence, a 16-year-old girl and another teenage couple as well, started a bonfire," Hancock Chief . A color guard stood at attention as the family car pulled into the driveway and Zofkie exited the backseat. My body is still burned. Glendale Heights police are still investigating and would not comment on the case, though they have said they dont believe the incident was malicious. Eli Lilly announced Wednesday a series of price cuts that would lower the price of the most commonly used forms of its insulin 70 percent. The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band also played a tribute to the victims and, contrary to the usual tradition, marched off the field in a silent cadence. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Oxycodone helps relieve the pain but also makes her nauseous. Delivered straight to your inbox, our daily coronavirus briefing will keep you informed of what is happening with Covid, lockdown, the vaccination rollout and the impact on how we live. Please subscribe to keep reading. I guess the gas can had about this much left in it, and the fumes are what ignited and caused the fire," Sarah said. So, with the help of Jamie as some extra muscle, they moved the wardrobe into the garden and set it alight. Some nights in the hospital brought nightmares, she recalled, her mind replaying images of the fire. Natalie Zofkie left Riley Hospital for Children Wednesday morning after five months recovering from severe burns suffered Oct. 3 in a fire pit accident. Natalie and her friends had feasted on traditional Thanksgiving sides before deciding to light up a cozy bonfire. The Bachners said she was treated for almost two weeks at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., eight days in the intensive care unit and five days in the burn center. "Just dumb things that you don't feel like you should have to tell your kidsyou have to tell your kid that.". "Everything happened so fast from the moment I poured the petrol to the horror that came afterwards. Texas A&M maintains that the insurance policies were actually purchased by an advisory committee to the bonfire and not the university. [11], The following day, the Aggies upset the Texas Longhorns, winning 2016 in the annual rivalry game. A woman engulfed in flames for five minutes in a freak accident has spoken of her horror ahead of Bonfire Night. "His mom told us not to play with the gas can, but we didn't listen, said Zofkie, who takes responsibility for the accident in which she suffered third-degree burns over 93 percent of her body. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Natalie Dempsey, a 21-year-old volunteer firefighter at the Mizpah Volunteer . Louise then slipped in the puddle of fluid and fell flat on her back, covering herself in petrol as she fell. I try to live in such a way that I would honor their memories and honor their lives, Davis said. She sustained severe burns on her face, chest, arms, hands, and back, and within her first year of recovery, Natalie underwent twelve laser surgeries, a free-flap neck surgery, and five full-thickness skin graft surgeries. After gasoline was poured on the bonfire, the flames exploded and set both Natalie and her friend, James, on fire. "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. Layne Chesney was 14 years old and a star softball player when the. The TAMU administration declined to accept the money and returned the checks. [21], On October 28, 2008, Texas A&M settled the final lawsuit filed against them by the fire victims and their families. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "I got out of bed every day and went to my therapy, said Zofkie. Natalie, 11, had been critically burned in an accident around a fire pit at a friend's home. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The car then struck a ditch and continued northwest into a nearby pasture before overturning several times, eventually coming to rest on its roof. RELATED: New documentary examines cause of Texas A&M bonfire collapse 20 years later, RELATED: 17 years later: Aggies remember bonfire tragedy, RELATED: Mourners recall 1999 Texas A&M bonfire accident, Nearly 20 years after the deadly Texas A&M bonfire collapse, a Houston man recounts his story of survival, 10 people run from traffic stop in west Houston, Memorial Villages PD says, Man ticketed for feeding Houston's homeless outside of library. A GoFundMe was started to raise money for the hospital expenses. Theres a form of survivors guilt, for sure, she said. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 25-year-old Natalie Smith was driving west on County Road 18 near Southwest 78th Place with 29-year-old Tyler Ritchie and another passenger around 11:37pm when, for unknown reasons, the 2007 Honda Accord went off road and onto the north shoulder. On Nov. 18, just after 2:40 a.m., something went terribly wrong and the structure made up of about 5,000 trees collapsed. A firefighter who was killed in a Christmas Day car crash while heading to an emergency call was laid to rest Sunday. The family is grateful for all the support from the community, including family, friends and strangers who have provided meals now that Sarah is back to work. In total, the funds received exceeded US$250,000. "Obviously it was terrible, said Shane Hedrick, Carmel Fire Department EMT. With so much changing so quickly, keep on top of what is happening with the Mirror's news updates by email. As of Monday morning, the fundraiser has raised more than $86,000. "I sat in the [waiting] room for like three or four hours while they tried to stabilize her. A car accident late Friday night in Union County has left two injured and one dead. Nov. 18, 2019. will mark 20 years since the nearly 60-foot timber structure collapsed. According to the press release, charges are pending. Recovery slow for teen severely burned in bonfire explosion. Did you encounter any technical issues? According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 25-year-old Natalie Smith was driving west on County Road 18 near Southwest 78th Place with 29-year-old Tyler Ritchie and another passenger around 11:37pm when, for unknown reasons, the 2007 Honda Accord went off road and onto the north shoulder. It absolutely reinforced in me the importance of life and the importance of relationships over everything else.. She said she wanted to speak out about fire safety to warn others about how easily things can go wrong and end in tragedy. That night, she recalled having a wonderful time. "Having an injury like that, all of that tissue has to come off.". At least 5 injured in fire-related incident in Hazel Green Accelerant poured on the fire left both students with severe burns. Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices, cap costs at $35 for many people with diabetes. According to A&M newspaper The Battalion,. Students, including the entire Texas A&M football team and many members of the university's Corps of Cadets, rushed to the site to assist rescue workers with the manual removal of the logs. That is why medical academy teacher Tyann Thomson and fellow teachers decided to organize a blood drive. In that moment, I saw the ground moving and somehow it didnt really get into my brain this thing is falling. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. [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. 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. To her mother, the raw, new skin appears a little bit better each time the dressing is removed and replaced. A car accident late Friday night in Union County has left two injured and one dead. Only after all of the rescue workers and family members had left the facility did the audience depart. "She's the community little sister. A Warner Bros. A 16-year-old Florida girl who was badly burned in a 2017 New Years Eve bonfire accident has died, according to her mother. James ran for 3 minutes while on fire as he was attempting to strip his burning clothes. She's tolerating everything we've done to her up to this point," Sarah said. Bowen formed a task force, which proposed a new design. COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KTRK) -- Hundreds gathered on the campus of Texas A &M University early Wednesday to remember the 12 people who died when Aggie Bonfire collapsed 21 years ago. 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. A website raising money for Chesney's medical costs reached more than $23,000 Thursday evening. 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. Louise pleaded with people to stay safe and not take risks as bonfire night arrives and celebrations begin. Over 16,000 mourners, including then Texas Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry, packed Reed Arena to pay tribute to those who died and those who had spent all day working to rescue the injured. 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