THEIR STORY
On Wednesday, July 12 around 9:30pm, the Mickelsen and Bellum families were getting ready for bed when they noticed the houseboat generator was out of gas. As the adults helped refuel the generator, the children jumped into lake with glow sticks to cool off. When the generator was started, Kirsten Meyer was nearest to the generator, with Stacey Mickelsen and Amy Bellum close behind and Kirk Mickelsen and Don Bellum also nearby.
The explosion caused Stacy and Amy to break both their legs, with second degree burns. Kirk suffered from secondary burns (possibly third degree) on both of his legs and left arm. Don had second degree burns as well.
Unfortunately, Kirsten passed away from the force of the blast. Beyond these five, no one else had major injuries. Since almost everyone else was in the water, they were protected from the explosion. None of the children were hurt. This was truly one of many miracles that happened.
Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles.
Notice them.
Following the explosion, two people from the group immediately took a boat out to the main channel to get cell phone service. None of the boats were damaged from the houseboat explosion. #Miracle2
After driving 30 seconds or so, they ran into a boat (reminder: this is around 9:45pm). The boat had missed the turn to where they were camped. #Miracle3
One of the persons on the boat was a paramedic and returned with them to help. #Miracle4
Because of where the Mickelsen's and Bellum's were camped, three helicopters were able to land within 100 yards of the houseboat. #Miracle5
Kirk, Stacey, Amy, and Don were flown to hospitals close by. Their families are with them now during their recovery.
After a great deal of reflection on Wednesday nights events, I have come to realize that in the dark, smoky, muted chaos of that tragic night and the suffering that will continue, there was strength. Strength of individual character, strength of family, and strength of faith.
I saw adults with no concern for their own safety dive into a dangerous environment of an explosion with 200 gallons of gas remaining in the aftermath. I watched a group of young kids from the ages of 12 to 17 that are normally wondering about in their own curious way, become focused and obedient. There was comforting from each child one to another throughout the night as the seriousness set in at different times for different people. There was the sound of primary songs, filled with the spirit and sound of silent prayers.
I watched every individual find a role and a way to help in the face of their fears and the unsurity of the night.
I watched a young girl of 17 retrieve 9 pair of shoes and 9 life jackets without any assistance to prepare and keep the young ones safe.
I watched a newly ordained priest offer to use his priesthood to help everyone in need including his mother.
I saw a 21-year-old say a desperate prayer to find a boat and then after his prayer was answered he managed the 9-1-1 call alone so that others could tend to their loved ones.
I watched a man burned from the waist down kneel with his unconscious wife for an hour in a smoldering engine compartment, with no concern for his well-being or the excruciating pain that he was enduring.
I saw a 23-year-old help pull bodies from the wreckage and debris and then hold another man in his arms for an hour to provide comfort and warmth until a helicopter arrived.
I saw a mountain of a man move items that a man has no business lifting and then turn around and offer tender whisperings of comfort to those who were injured.
I witnessed two sisters comfort each other, knowing their parents were hurt. They took turns being the strong one, instinctively knowing the needs of the other.
I watched my wife calmly offer direction and tend to the small necessary details of getting lights, moving glass, and comforting a conscious Amy who was suffering from burns and broken legs.
I witnessed a man respond to his wife as she came to in the hospital, knowing her every need because she could not speak.
These were only some of the things I witnessed in the chaos and aftermath of that dreadful night. There were many miracles that occurred that night, but the human spirit and the bonds of family were a shining light in the darkness.
SHINING IN THE DARKNESS
RON WINSTANELY'S PERSPECTIVE:
Each of us on the houseboat had a slightly different "angle" to the accident as we were fulfilling different roles to help all that were involved. I thought I would share a few of my experiences and miracles that I observed or witnessed.
As was mentioned before, I feel it was pretty miraculous that we ended up having a spot that was pretty close to the main channel. It also had some really great flat spots on shore for setting up chairs, tents, fires, etc. This proved to be very helpful after the explosion for the kids to go and be gathered together for support and reassurance.
The night began as normal. We had dinner and we were getting ready for bed. I was up on top with a few others setting up beds and setting up for movie night on the canyon wall. Kids were on the back of the boat bathing and playing in and out of the water with glow sticks. Others were getting ready for bed (which is towards the back of the houseboat where the bedroom, closets, and bathrooms are located).
Others were working on the generator. It had stopped because we had run out of gas, and so someone had just filled the gas tank and was moving the gas can out of the way. The generator was not starting right away. It was turning over, but not actually starting. My dad had tried to start the generator (which is a switch on the helm or front of the houseboat). My brother was on the back of the houseboat. Since it wasn’t starting, they switched and my brother was at the helm and my dad headed towards the back. Kirsten was fixing a wheel on the gas can that was just used to fill the gas tank for the generator. Essentially crouched down right where Greig had just been.
Kirk, Amy and Stacey were on the back of the boat in the generator area. I had just come down the spiral staircase and was standing just behind, and in between, the two engine compartment doors when the explosion happened. Because I was standing just behind the metal ‘bridge’ that went over the generator in between the two engine compartment doors the explosion was parted a bit and went essentially on each side of me. I was just as close to the explosion as Kirsten, Amy, Kirk, Stacey, and Don, but I was protected. Thrown back into the stairs, I had burnt hair, but no burns or other injuries. This was my own personal first miracle.
Because I was uninjured, I was able to get to my wife when I heard her yelling for help, and with the help of others, able to lift her out of the engine compartment that she had fallen into and moved onto the back bed. I was then able to get to my boat and drive with a few others into the pitch black dark to the open channel to get cell service and get in contact with 911 and Flight-for-Life.
As mentioned before, we shortly intercepted another boat that missed their entrance to Hanson’s Canyon. There was a former EMT on that boat. Devin was able to move onto that boat and keep connected with 9-1-1 in the channel while I was able to return and help back on the house boat…another miracle.
Back on the houseboat, all the glass was shattered not only from the back glass door but the mirror on the wall that the bed was set against. All this glass was on the bed and floor. We were barefoot and running back and forth on that floor…none of us received a single cut as we ran back and forth on that glass covered floor. My dad was laying on that floor for a while and he also never received a cut…a miracle.
We had to wait a long time for flight for life to arrive…we think about 2 hours. We were very remote and the closest access was Paige, AZ. Because we intercepted that boat in the channel we were able to keep 9-1-1 with new developments so that they could send the correct number of helicopters and airplanes and boats/paramedics/etc…a miracle.
At the boat, after what seemed we were waiting for so long, we decided to move Stacey to my boat and head towards the marina. At that time, the first boat and helicopter arrived. We were able to drive her over to the helicopter and then get Kirk attention to injuries…which were severe….a miracle.
On the back of the boat were 6 – 30 gallon gas cans of gas. They were at the point of explosion…no fires…the cans look virtually untouched….a miracle.
During the explosion, there was shrapnel flying towards the kids on the back of the boat and in the water. None of that flying debris hit anyone…a miracle.
As we have reflected on what has happened we have considered how things would have played out if we had one less able body or one more injured victim. We were pretty blessed that we had the scenario that we did. Everyone took on a role. Everyone assumed a responsibility, and we worked together to get through a tragedy, as if someone was orchestrating what we should do…that was divine intervention.