[ad_1]
Stefanie Schaffer and her mother, Stacey, traveled to the Bahamas for a holiday in the sun, swimming in the blue waters, and spending time with Stefanie's younger sister, Brooke, and stepfather Paul Bender. Now the rest of their family rushes to their side after a tragic explosion seriously injured both women.
Stefanie, 22, was seriously injured when the small tour boat, whose four men were on board, exploded on Saturday morning, according to her brother George, who spoke Sunday at ABC News. George said that Stefanie had both legs amputated and that she remained in critical condition in a medically-induced coma at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau.
Stacey was seriously injured, including multiple fractures and internal injuries. Paul and Brooke suffered cuts and bruises but escaped serious injury.
One person, an American, was killed in the explosion and nine others, including the Schaffer family, were injured. There were 12 people on the boat – 10 Americans and two natives of the Bahamas – when he exploded around 9am Saturday off the coast of Exuma.
George told ABC News that his little sister "danced all his childhood".
He and another member of his family from Rutland, Vermont, travel to Nassau to be with his sister and mother at the hospital.
The family launched a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $ 50,000 to pay for the medical and travel expenses of Stacey and Stefanie. He had raised about $ 17,700 in his first 12 hours since posting.
"Hang on Stef I'm on my way," George wrote on his Facebook page.
A video filmed from a nearby boat showed panicked tourists jumping into shallow water to try to save passengers in the burning ship. Dark, thick smoke was pouring into the sky and large flames were still firing on the disabled craft.
The cause of the explosion has not been determined yet. The Exuma police is leading the investigation.
Source link