Tragic Accident

[ReefArtist]

This was posted on RC yesterday by Ian aka kingnai:

Did you guys hear about the boat explosion at beer can island May 9th?

That was a friend of mine from work and his family. He ended up losing both legs and an arm.

Here is a summary of what happened:

On Saturday May 9th all 14 of us went for a boat ride in the Maddie Mae. We anchored at an island we typically stop at. After eating lunch, we put the kids down for their naps. All of the kids but Logan were down below in the boat either napping or playing. Carrie, Mom, and Logan were playing cards on deck of the boat and Mike and Angie were hanging out in the boat as well and Dad was getting on board. Brian, Chris, and I were standing in the water a distance behind the boat. There was a huge explosion. Brian, Chris, and I swam over to the boat and started pulling the kids out from the cabin and getting those that were ejected out of the boat to shore. Many other boaters assisted us on shore and 911 was called. Helicopters lifted everyone off the island while Chris, the kids, and I were taken by boat and then by ambulance. We all arrived at TGH. The rest moves very fast. After all was said and done, they all went to ICU with the following injuries.

Logan- 2 broken wrists, 2 broken heel bones, lacerated liver and spleen

Angie-broken ribs, large hematoma on hip, multiple contusions

Carrie-2 broken ribs, 2 broken vertebrae (will not require surgery), both legs with broken shin bones and heel bones

Mike-left leg amputation at the calf, right leg amputation at the knee, fractured shoulder blade, fractured femur, left forearm compartment syndrome

Mom-salt water in lungs, bleeding around the brain, both heel bones broken, abdominal compartment syndrome required incision, broken left elbow/arm

Dad-broken left elbow/forearm, amputation below the knee of left leg, left leg femur fracture

 

Originally, their prognosis was not good, but with a lot of prayers they have really come through.

Ok here is the deal, Mike is my friend and his wife Carrie communicate via laptops. Well some idiot stole one of the laptops from the hospital.

I am trying to get together donations to buy a new laptop so they can communicate to each other from separate hospital rooms.

If anyone in the reefing community can spare 1$ $5 or anything at all please send what you can via paypal to ian@goswd.com.

Here is a picture of all the people involved Mike and Carrie are on the left.

 
Thank you,
Ian Simmons aka RC's Kingnai

[ReefRunner]

I would like to ask our members to step up and help out.  As Jennifer (Mrs. Ichthy) said "Your life can change in an instant". 

Thank you.

Robin

[ReefArtist]

I couldn't imagine what this family is going through – but we can at least show we are at least thinking of them.

[Mrs. Ichthy]

Glad to see this posted here.  FYI- For those of you who don't get our email flyer from the store:

Starting Monday 6/22 until Saturday 6/7  we are selling blue leg hermits for $ .40 each
and astrea snails for $ .50 each.  All profit from the critter sale will go to the cause.

Already, one of our customers has responded early this morning with an offer to donate a used laptop.  The info has already been forwarded to Ian.  We plan to follow through regardless in case it doesn't work out and to help with any other needs they may have.  We have even been contacted by one of our out of state I-Tech customers wanting to help.

This is no surprise to us- we already knew what great people "reefers" are.  

Jennifer

[mrferrit]

This is great i followed the whole incident over the VHF radio and it was a tragic event. I hope to make it up there so i can help the cause and some snails can help my problem.

being on the water and boating things can go wrong very fast and it does, my thoughts go out to the family and people involved