Posted on 07/02/2018 8:49:02 AM PDT by Hojczyk
An American woman who survived a deadly tour boat explosion in the Bahamas remained in critical condition Monday -- and the family of the dancer and recent college graduate made the grim announcement both her legs had to be amputated after the blast.
Stefanie Schaffer, 22, was on vacation with her sister, Brooke, mother, Stacey, and stepfather, Paul Bender, when the tour boat they were on burst into flames around 9 a.m. off the island of Exuma, located about 130 miles south of Nassau.
Stefanie sustained "life threatening injuries" that required a double amputation, her family said on a GoFundMe Page set up to pay for medical expenses. Her mother had multiple broken bones and "internal injuries," and Paul and Brooke suffered from cuts and bruises from the blast.
The boat was carrying a total of 12 passengers -- 10 Americans and two Bahamians -- when the explosion suddenly rocked the watercraft, officials said. An American female tourist was killed and several others were injured in the blast.
"With the support of the family, we have launched a GoFundMe page, in hopes to raise $50,000.00," the family said. "We know their expenses will far exceed this as this becomes a lifelong struggle for this family."
An unnamed relative told the Daily Mail that Stefanie was a "very outgoing" dancer.
"The scary thing is Stefanie doesn't know that she's lost her legs, and that's what really upsets me," the woman said. "She's going to wake up from this coma and realize 'I don't have any legs.' It's breaking my heart."
Another relative told the Daily Mail that Stefanie is unable to be flown back to the U.S. right now because she’s in "really serious shape."
"She's in really critical care right now and in really serious shape," the relative said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
As a former ballet dancer, I just...can’t imagine.
Heartbreaking!!!
Prayers for Stefanie.
Poor girl.
Pretty girl too. That’s really sad.
God bless her. But she will find she can go on, and have the strength to do what she has to. May she find something really great to do that needs no legs.
Most likely an inboard. Gasoline in the bilge and no spark arrestor on the alternator will do this. Perhaps they put in an automotive alternator and did not transfer the spark screen. Then decided to skip a bilge check and blower motor before heading out.
The Bahamas is going downhill fast. The VAT increase is just a symptom of spiraling corruption fueled by ethno-centric nationalism.
prayers and good thoughts for this young woman and her family..
How incredibly heart breaking. I have a daughter who is studying at a performing arts college in NYC, which includes several dance classes.
I don’t even have the words to express how sad and horrified I am for this poor girl.
She could switch careers and still be in the arts. Still, having to go back to square zero would be a deep shock.
I came across a gal that lost one of her legs recently.
I was in hotel lobby when this gal moved in front of me to the counter, very gracefully. As she stood there, I noticed she had a prosthetic leg. I could only tell because she had shorts on.
As she walked away from the counter I stopped her and told her how amazed I was at her agility, and that I’d never knows she was an amputee if she’d been wearing pants.
She was very pleased to hear this and thanked me. She’d been hit by a car and after some unsuccessful surgeries she finally relented to amputation.
The advancement of prosthetics is one of the greatest medical stories of our time for sure!
I don’t know if ballet is still possible with prosthetics, but other kinds of dancing may be.
Also, dancers have excellent rhythm and a forced ex-dancer could become a musician with a “leg up” (pardon the pun) on that capability.
If they could afford to go on a boat tour in the Bahamas, couldn’t they afford to have insurance? And if they could, why the GoFundMe page?
Maybe that’s to meet the deductible, and other things that aren’t part of a medical insurance plan?
Man your sick..
“...why the GoFundMe page?”
Maybe they aren’t all that wealthy. I once was treated to a trip to Aruba by a friend’s family after I graduated from high school. They also paid all of my expenses because Lord knows I didn’t even have $20 to bring with me on that trip!
As a paraplegic former ballroom/Latin dancer, this brings back a flood of bad memories. Hearing “Your paralyzed...” from my neurosurgeon was beyond my ability to comprehend at that moment. The process of “radical acceptance” is what she must go through, and like mine, her pillows will be soaked with tears until she wraps her head around the impact of her injuries. I’d like to visit he bedside to hold her hand in prayer, and assure her that life does indeed go on, just different and very challenging.
Apparently it was a bilge explosion. Outboard motors with fuel tanks located under passenger seating. Operator error or willful negligence. Having done an eastern Caribbean cruise just last month I’ve decided we’ll stick with Cozumel and Costa Maya for future cruises.
Agree. Little cold.
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