Randy Thompson Burn Recovery Fund
Donation protected
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/2-people-injured-5-boats-burned-in-fire-in-green-cove-springs/468770465
Randy Thompson and his best friend were getting a tow boat ready to help people whose boats sank or were damaged in Hurricane Matthew off St. Augustine, Florida. They noticed a leak in the gas tank of the tow boat. They opened the hatches to try to get fresh air into the boat and then started to clean up the gas that was slowly leaking into the bilge. They had just about finished when the bilge pump that was hooked to the battery automatically engaged. The spark set off the gas fumes. There was a flash and suddenly both men were engulfed in a wall of fire. They ran for the boat’s stern and dove into the river.
Randy saw the flames on his arm extinguish as his face went under water. They swam as the fire chased them down the pier from boat to boat. Finally they got ahead of the flames and were able to climb out using a boat’s stern ladder. By then they were both in shock. An ambulance took them to the nearest trauma center, but the trauma center was unequipped to handle their burns, which covered their entire arms and hands and their faces.
They were transferred to the UF Health Burn Center at Gainsville in Florida, where they are now receiving fantastic care. Both men have second and third degree burns to their hands and arms, so they can’t use these limbs much at all. Thankfully, their faces sustained only first-degree burns and neither have any lung damage.
As of today, the doctors think they will not need skin grafts. Randy has medical insurance that carries a maximum out-of-pocket expense of $2,000. We anticipate that he will be unable to work for about two months, and so he will be unable to pay his normal monthly bills during that time. Any help that you feel able to provide would be so appreciated.
Thank you,
Thressa
(Randy and his wife Thressa are fellow cruisers that are in the same marina as Scott and I. We are trying to help them out by starting this page for them. All funds go directly to Randy and Thressa. I am solely the administrator to this page and will answer any questions you may have. If you are unable to donate please share this link, every little bit helps. Thanks for your support. -Kim)
Randy Thompson and his best friend were getting a tow boat ready to help people whose boats sank or were damaged in Hurricane Matthew off St. Augustine, Florida. They noticed a leak in the gas tank of the tow boat. They opened the hatches to try to get fresh air into the boat and then started to clean up the gas that was slowly leaking into the bilge. They had just about finished when the bilge pump that was hooked to the battery automatically engaged. The spark set off the gas fumes. There was a flash and suddenly both men were engulfed in a wall of fire. They ran for the boat’s stern and dove into the river.
Randy saw the flames on his arm extinguish as his face went under water. They swam as the fire chased them down the pier from boat to boat. Finally they got ahead of the flames and were able to climb out using a boat’s stern ladder. By then they were both in shock. An ambulance took them to the nearest trauma center, but the trauma center was unequipped to handle their burns, which covered their entire arms and hands and their faces.
They were transferred to the UF Health Burn Center at Gainsville in Florida, where they are now receiving fantastic care. Both men have second and third degree burns to their hands and arms, so they can’t use these limbs much at all. Thankfully, their faces sustained only first-degree burns and neither have any lung damage.
As of today, the doctors think they will not need skin grafts. Randy has medical insurance that carries a maximum out-of-pocket expense of $2,000. We anticipate that he will be unable to work for about two months, and so he will be unable to pay his normal monthly bills during that time. Any help that you feel able to provide would be so appreciated.
Thank you,
Thressa
(Randy and his wife Thressa are fellow cruisers that are in the same marina as Scott and I. We are trying to help them out by starting this page for them. All funds go directly to Randy and Thressa. I am solely the administrator to this page and will answer any questions you may have. If you are unable to donate please share this link, every little bit helps. Thanks for your support. -Kim)
Organizer and beneficiary
Kim'n Scott
Organizer
Green Cove Springs, FL
Thressa Smith
Beneficiary
