[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. Her face was still cloaked in bandages and a knit tube dressing, with openings for her hazel eyes, nose and lips. Louise Chadwick suffered 13 severe burns on her shins, thighs, legs, feet, arms . "Dr. Hartman says you expect for every percent that she was burned [to equate to] a day in the hospital, so about 94 days. It was, like, unreal. "For like almost a month, everyone thought I was going to die, said Zofkie. Bachner, a sophomore at Glenbard East High School, was was released from the hospital earlier in May after being treated for 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her face and head. 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. Its not too bad to talk about, she said. Katharina Buczek You need to get to Riley,'" Sarah recalled. 99% of her body was burned in the accident and is now on life support and in a medically induced coma. "93 percent of her body is burnt. Family says she's shaken her head "yes" and "no," waved at loved ones and reached out with her hand. "Jamie was trying to help me get them off but he was in complete shock at what was happening. "Just dumb things that you don't feel like you should have to tell your kidsyou have to tell your kid that.". "I got out of bed every day and went to my therapy, said Zofkie. 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. The petrol can Louise was holding immediately caught fire and she dropped it on the floor, spilling it all over the grass. She was walking in the hospital by December. There were reportedly dozens of. I was trapped for four hours.. Natalie Zofkie left Riley Hospital for Children Wednesday morning after five months recovering from severe burns suffered Oct. 3 in a fire pit accident. [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. 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. 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. Twelve students were killed and another 27 were injured, including Bill Davis, a sophomore at the time. But I'm just glad to be out.". CNNs By Hollie Silverman, Dave Alsup and Laura Diaz-Zuniga contributed to this report. But I pulled through.". What was supposed to be a nice end to the evening and warm everybody up, though, quickly turned into a tragedy. The mum of two suffered third degree burns all over her lower body and arms leaving her in need of a skin graft. "Having an injury like that, all of that tissue has to come off.". Did you encounter any technical issues? "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. Send an email to angelsofnataliezofkie@gmail.com for more information and to contribute. HAZEL GREEN, Ala. (WAFF) - Students and faculty at Hazel Green High School are going the extra mile to help their own. According to the press release, charges are pending. The game began with a flyover of F-16 jets, all piloted by former A&M students, in the missing man formation. "The scars on my body have healed as much as they ever will, but it's my mental health that's been damaged the most. A car accident late Friday night in Union County has left two injured and one dead. "And thats just something simply that we can do by giving 15 minutes. Davis spent seven days in the ICU and another couple of weeks in the hospital. First responders led the welcome home parade for 12-year-old Natalie Zofkie Wednesday. He was holding the gas can in his right hand resulting in the lost of the tips of all 10 fingers. November 21, 2022, 7:00 am. Natalie Zofkie returned home from the hospital to a hero's welcome Wednesday. 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. "I can't tell you how many times I've poured gas on a fire out of ignorance of the implications. [16] On May 21, 2004, US Federal Judge Samuel B. Kent dismissed all claims against the Texas A&M officials. NOBLESVILLE, Ind. Photos from the night capture her smiling profile, the contours of her face smooth and unblemished. It. The accident ended the bonfire as an annual campus tradition although students and alumni still hold the event off-campus without support from the university. However, the aftermath of the accident proved equally horrific as Louise suddenly realised the severity of her burns. While the pair may have a long journey ahead, they won't make it alone. "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.". I dont know if I fell out of my seat, because of the impact.. Please subscribe to keep reading. People tried to put out the fire. by As she was at a friends house, she was involved in a bonfire accident. "I wouldn't wish what happened to me upon my worst enemy and I hope everyone out there stays safe this bonfire night.". It heals through time.. After five minutes of unimaginable pain, with the help of her youngest daughter Georgia Mulbey, 19, Louise finally managed to put herself out. "Every day that goes by I still think about what happened," Louise said. Sarah got to Riley Hospital for Children just in time to see Natalie before doctors rushed her to emergency treatment. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Korryn Bachner , 15, hugs her dog Nina at her home in Lombard on May 18. The gentle dabs of gauze feel like shards of glass on the 15-year-olds cheek. Despite their efforts, Layne had third-degree burns over 95% of her body, her mother said. James Boyle and Natalie Prescott suffered severe burns in the explosion and are still recovering. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. She fought a hard battle right until the end never wanting to quit because quitting was not in her nature a Facebook page for her supporters reported Friday. "Obviously it was terrible, said Shane Hedrick, Carmel Fire Department EMT. There is not a day that goes by that in some way Im not thinking about the bonfire, Davis said. She said she wanted to speak out about fire safety to warn others about how easily things can go wrong and end in tragedy. There, over a dozen seniors left behind their Aggie rings, permanently donating them to the students who did not live long enough to earn their own. 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 . Two teenagers were injured in Leetown Friday evening -- one grievously -- after a bonfire accident, officers of the Hancock County Sheriff's Office said. Korryn Bachner was among a dozen teens injured last month in a backyard fire pit explosion at the Glendale Heights, Ill., home of a friend. 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. [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. The parts that are really sensitive, I dont even want to touch, she said. Natalie Smith and James Boyle were burned at an outdoor fire in November. First truckloads of contaminated waste dumped in Putnam County landfill, IMPD releases edited bodycam of man shot, critically injured by officers after chase, Wednesday evening Live Doppler 13 forecast March 1, 2023, Live Doppler 13 Weather Blog: Heavy rain, storms return Friday, 'I want to get out of here': Noblesville girl walks for 1st time since fire pit accident, 11-year-old Noblesville girl critically burned in fire pit accident. 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. But I dont really think about it (now). Some nights in the hospital brought nightmares, she recalled, her mind replaying images of the fire. [22] The final lawsuit, filed against two companies that provided crane operators and cranes for the bonfire, was settled in April 2014. 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. They are sharing their story in hopes of saving others from the horrific injuries their little Natalie Zofkie is dealing with now. I knew I was on fire so I stopped, dropped and rolled. He spent months in the hospital following amputation of his left leg and partial paralysis of his right side. Glenbard East Hight School held a car wash raising proceeds for the survivors. A 16-year-old Florida girl who was badly burned in a 2017 New Years Eve bonfire accident has died, according to her mother. 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. "It was less than a 30-minute drive, but it felt like we were never going to get there," Sarah said. A look at 2023's new garden plants, Proposed Medicare Advantage Changes Cannot Accurately Be Called Cuts, Experts Say, Women who eat fast food have worse mental health than men, new study says, New smartphone can go from 0% to 100% in less than 10 minutes, This zero-calorie sweetener has been linked to heart attack and stroke, Participating in 11 minutes of daily exercise can extend your life, study says. 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. I guess the gas can had about this much left in it, and the fumes are what ignited and caused the fire," Sarah said. See How All 50 Wards Voted in the 2023 Chicago Mayoral Election. Both spent months in Nashville undergoing countless surgeries, including skin grafting. So, with the help of Jamie as some extra muscle, they moved the wardrobe into the garden and set it alight. Korryn was released from the hospital May 10, but her injuries meant she had to miss the remainder of the school year as well as her May 12 prom at Glenbard East High School. 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. [11] An official memorial service was held less than seventeen hours after the collapse. The task force recommended that students be allowed to participate in building the bonfire as long as they were monitored by professional construction experts. "They went out on the deck and were out there making s'mores, and Natalie poured gas on the fire to make it bigger. She's tolerating everything we've done to her up to this point," Sarah said. The film details the Bonfire collapse, follows the survivors and honors those who died. Its painful, excruciating, she said, closing her eyes and cringing at the memory of the daily ritual. 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. In 2002, Bowen announced that the bonfire was officially cancelled. Doctors have told Sarah they believe Natalie will be able to walk and should regain full mobility. She has a spirit like nobody else.". 489 were here. 1:17 AM EDT, Sun May 12, 2019, Teen gravely injured at marshmallow roast (2018), a Facebook page for her supporters reported Friday. 2021 Chip Chick Media Inc. All rights reserved. Authorities have said one of about 25 high-school-aged students at a party poured gasoline from a 5-gallon can onto the fire; that teenager was a boy who was also severely injured in the explosion . One would allow the government to recover past overpayments. As of Monday morning, the fundraiser has raised more than $86,000. "Shes doing the best she can for the circumstances that they are," he said. Carmel Fire Department paramedic Arielle Morgan shared a long embrace with Zofkie as family and friends gathered outside the house when the parade concluded. . Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. 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. While grappling with the tragic accident, though, Natalie never shied away from sharing her story and educating the community about what its like to be a burn survivor. [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. "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. Bigger, better, tougher? I never felt like I was going to die. 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. Several people received burns and were shortly transported to nearby hospitals, authorities said. "We're able to use a combination of her own skin, spray skin and some cultured skin, which we sent away to get cultured, and that comes back to me in about three to four weeks," Dr. Hartman said. It is been two weeks since sophomores James Boyle and Natalie Smith were injured at an outdoor bonfire. 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. 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. Authorities have said one of about 25 high-school-aged students at a party poured gasoline from a 5-gallon can onto the fire; that teenager was a boy who was also severely injured in the explosion, according to law enforcement. People sent thousands of e-mails about the cartoon to the newspaper offices. He considers these things blessings that he knows 12 of his classmates will never experience. [11], The following day, the Aggies upset the Texas Longhorns, winning 2016 in the annual rivalry game. 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 November 25, 1999, the date that the bonfire would have burned, Aggies instead held a vigil and remembrance ceremony. "She is extremely tough. People have left food for the Zofkie family now that Sarah has returned to work while Natalie is still recovering in the hospital. 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. Sign up here. Once she glanced at the mirror unintentionally, catching a quick glimpse of her right side, the more badly burned side. At approximately 2:42a.m.[a] on November 18, 1999, the annual Aggie Bonfire at Texas A&M University collapsed during its construction, killing 12 people and injuring 27. On April 20, she arrived home after dark to find lit candles spelling PROM? across her driveway. Zofkies mother, Sarah Zofkie, said her daughter is not expected to require further surgery. In a way, Im kind of carrying their flag.. Louise Chadwick suffered 13 severe burns on her shins, thighs, legs, feet, arms, hands and lower torso after starting a bonfire in her garden. Texas A&M maintains that the insurance policies were actually purchased by an advisory committee to the bonfire and not the university. Her uncle Dan told NBC 5 Thursday night she's in a medically induced coma and fighting for her life. At the end of the service, as A&M University President Ray Bowen presented roses to the families of the dead and injured students, the crowd spontaneously stood in silence, linking arms with those standing next to them, before quietly singing "Amazing Grace". Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Daniel Hewey, 20, died from his injuries after he was . New documentary examines cause of Texas A&M bonfire collapse 20 years later, 17 years later: Aggies remember bonfire tragedy, Mourners recall 1999 Texas A&M bonfire accident. The tradition ended after the accident. After gasoline was poured on the bonfire, the flames exploded and set both Natalie and her friend, James, on fire. 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. [12], On November 25, 1999, the date that the bonfire would have burned, Aggies instead held a vigil and remembrance ceremony. Example video title will go here for this video, Serial killer documentary | Meet the Casanova Killer called 'more brutal than Bundy'. Glendale Heights police are still investigating and would not comment on the case, though they have said they dont believe the incident was malicious. With the weather in full chill and Thanksgiving right around the corner, countless friend groups throughout the country will be planning their own holiday dinner to give thanks. Houston weather: What are SPC storm risk categories, threat levels? 93 Monday marks 14 years since the tragic collapse of the Aggie Bonfire that claimed 12 lives and injured 27 others on the Texas A&M University campus. But I don't know if I really deserved all that.". 2023 Cable News Network. Recovery slow for teen severely burned in bonfire explosion. James spent over four months in the Vanderbilt Burn Center with burns on 85. [6], The university gave the National Forestry Hero Award to an employee of Steely Lumber Co., James Gibson, for rescuing students. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Everybody has hung out with her, babysat her, done something.". 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. [16] In one of the six lawsuits, plaintiffs alleged that A&M officials violated the bonfire victims' right of due process by placing those victims in a "state-created danger" by not ensuring the bonfire's structural integrity and by allowing unqualified students to work on the stack. 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. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the remaining lawsuits against Texas A&M and its officials in April 2007. A Warner Bros. "I see a lot of success stories come out of Riley for us and our burn team," Dr. Hartman said. Natalie is front right. Davis went on to graduate, get married and have two children. At the stadium, fans relit their candles as the Parsons Mounted Cavalry fired the Aggie cannon twelve times, once for each victim. At least 5 injured in fire-related incident in Hazel Green Accelerant poured on the fire left both students with severe burns. appreciated. Smith collided with a Toyota Tacoma driven by 30-year-old Natalie Swauger, of Seaside. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Nov. 18, 2019. will mark 20 years since the nearly 60-foot timber structure collapsed. After gasoline was poured on the bonfire, the flames exploded and set both Natalie and her friend, James, on fire. It was an homage to this years prom theme: a night of a thousand lights. Several people received . The collapse time is disputed. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. She tells them her daughter is alive because of them. "I've had countless nightmares where I've woken up thinking I was burning and my kids have had to come in and calm me down. Accelerant poured on the fire left both students with severe burns. [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. Zofkie spent five months in the hospital, including two months in a coma. [8], For two years, the university pondered options for reinstating the tradition. But, after this nineteen-year-old named Natalie attended her Friendsgiving event on November 25, 2019, her life changed forever. "Any father or mother who sees their child in a burn unit, it's just a roller coaster of emotions," her uncle said. The gauze is applied to Korryns face almost like papier-mache, thin strips coated with a topical burn ointment. "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. Oxycodone helps relieve the pain but also makes her nauseous. Laynes mother, Leigh Ann Wirz Chesney, told CNN that Layne died Friday morning. 303k Followers, 4,491 Following, 650 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Natalie Smith (@smithnathi) Natalie Smith (@smithnathi) Instagram photos and videos smithnathi In total, the funds received exceeded US$250,000. [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], Rescue operations took over 24 hours; the pace was slowed by the decision to remove many of the logs by hand for fear that using heavy equipment to remove them would cause further collapses, resulting in further injuries to those still trapped. It took over a year for her burns to heal, but the scars she has will stay with her forever, both physically and mentally. [10], At noon, students held an impromptu prayer service in the center of campus, at Rudder Fountain. The university agreed to pay $2.1 million and promised that if the bonfire returned to campus that "engineering oversight" would be provided. Comstock returned to A&M in 2001 to finish his degree. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much "I sat in the [waiting] room for like three or four hours while they tried to stabilize her. She sits in the bathtub to keep warm, a heater on full blast raising the temperature in the bathroom as she shivers. Smith returned home several weeks ago. 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. In 1999, that game was against the University of Texas. "She's the community little sister. Copyright 2019 WAFF. To her mother, the raw, new skin appears a little bit better each time the dressing is removed and replaced. 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. 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. "I could feel the heat quickly nearing my face, but I couldn't get my trousers off because I was wearing my partners slippers. "Every kid should get that when they survive a burn and they're coming home, said Zofkie. Can severe weather cancel the Houston Rodeo? She's endured about a dozen surgeries and painful rehabilitation for her skin grafts. They decided the best way was to burn it in the back garden using petrol to get the fire going. Natalie Dempsey, a 21-year-old volunteer firefighter at the Mizpah Volunteer . A few seconds later, it was all said and done and I landed face down in the dirt. First truckloads of contaminated waste dumped in Putnam County landfill, IMPD releases edited bodycam of man shot, critically injured by officers after chase, Wednesday evening Live Doppler 13 forecast March 1, 2023, Live Doppler 13 Weather Blog: Heavy rain, storms return Friday, 12-year-old boy and his dog killed by wildfire in Oregon, Young heroes rescue Marion man from burning home. "[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. 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. The ICU and another couple of weeks in the annual rivalry game allowed to participate in building the,! 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