Son of a Winnipeg man who was seriously injured in a suspicion of gas explosion in a resort next to the beach in Hawaii at the end of last week, says it is a miracle that his father is alive.
Darren Stevenson was one of the seven people injured by an explosion in the Whaler grill area on Kaanapali beach in Maui on Thursday night.
The Winnipegger, who regularly annulled in the state of the United States with his wife, Diane, was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Honolulu with severe burns and fractures.
Recently they have transferred it from the Hospital Intensive Care Unit to the Trauma Room, where it remains.
Stevenson’s son, Brock, said that the last days have been a “whirlwind” for the whole family.
“You listen to how bad the explosion was and you simply feel there and you really think … how wasn’t it damaged worse than it is?” He said in an interview. “It was a miracle that survived at all.”
Police in Maui said Friday that two people in critical condition were taken to the hospital in Oahu to receive treatment. They said that injured people were between 18 and 74.
The video of the shared area on social networks shows an outdoor explosion near a pool, and the debris dispersed near the beach.
Mathew Koziak, Stevenson’s son -in -law, said the incident feels “quite surreal.”
“We are trying to keep it together as well as possible and just sail everything as it comes to us,” he said. “But understandably, it is quite difficult when they are so far, especially on a remote island.”
‘It’s like outside a movie’
The Maui Police said that the cause of the explosion has not yet been officially determined, but preliminary investigations suggest that it was involved liquefied oil gas, which supplies barbecue grills in the common area of the resort. They say that witnesses suggested that there was a possible grill malfunction before the incident.
The family said Stevenson was in the barbecue when the explosion occurred. His wife walked back to his accommodations to grab something, and was not injured.
The complex said in a statement to Associated Press that is actively working with the Fire Department to investigate the incident, and that “will share updates as soon as more information is available.”
“Our main priority is the security and well -being of our owners, guests and team members,” said the statement.
“It’s like outside a movie,” said Randy Van De Mosselaer, a lifelong friend from Darren’s.
Van de Mosselaer and his wife had been on vacation with the couple, but they flew back to Winnipeg before the incident. The Stevenson were ready to return to the city a few days later, he said.
“It will be an intensive rehabilitation,” said Van de Mosselaer. “They are not sure how long the recovery will last, but we are seeing as months at one year.”
Van de Mosselaer’s wife since then returned to Hawaii, along with Darren’s sister, to support the couple.
Van de Mosselaer has started a gofundme to raise money for his friend, whom he meets for 35 years as ticket holders of the Blue Bombers season.
“At this time, we are taking things day by day,” he said. “But it will be a joy to go to a game of bombers again with him, and I hope it is in the very close future.”
Brock Stevenson said he could talk to his father briefly after surgery on Monday, with his mother’s help.
“My dad is … [a] Selfless person who is only his most genuine being, “he said.” I think only people’s support shows what kind of character is my father really. “
