Victims recovering from marina boat explosion
Ford, who is suffering second- and third-degree burns on more than 40 percent of his body, was still hospitalized as of Monday, June 12, at Vanderbilt Burn Center. He had just started a new job when the accident occurred and is not yet covered by insurance, so his sister, Samantha Jones, set up a gofundme account to help.
“He is doing pretty well,” she said. “He was burned on his hands, on both legs, both arms and his armpits, and he had skin grafts [last] Tuesday.
“His hands were probably the worst of it, and they are really painful right now,” she added. “He is undergoing physical therapy, and Sunday was a hard day for him, but they are evaluating him and hoping he will heal enough to be able to go home this week.
“Additional grafting will be as needed, and after he is discharged, our mom, Debra, will be his caregiver when he is able to go home.”
Asking for prayers, “We 100 percent believe in the power of prayer, and the prayers we have all prayed, and the prayer vigils we have held we believe are totally behind his healing so far,” Jones said.
“We are just continuing to pray and are asking everyone for their continued prayers for him.”
Ford and three passengers — Katelyn “Katie” Frotholm, along with Caryn Bradford and Aaron Summer — all sustained injuries in the fire, which is continuing to be investigated by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
According to a TWRA incident report, the four were passengers in a 1990 Malibu Sunsetter Wakeboard boat, operated by Ford, who “docked up to the fuel docks at Concord Marina and requested fuel from the staff. The boat was fueled at the marina, and after fueling, when attempting to depart the dock, the vessel … exploded.
“Three of the four were transported to University of Tennessee Medical Center, then later to Vanderbilt Burn Center,” the report further stated.
“We have been told the boat is now at the bottom of the lake, so they are not able to examine it to better determine the cause,” Jones said.
Alcohol was determined to not have been a factor in the accident, according to the report.
Anyone wishing to donate, may visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-brother-aftermath-of-boat-explosion.
