MIAMI (WSVN) - One of the survivors of a deadly Memorial Day boating explosion credited the medical staff that tended to her and her family, as she addressed the terrifying moments that sent them to the hospital with serious burns.
Cassandra Rivera spoke publicly for the first time since the boat blast at a news conference held Wednesday at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
“I thought at the time, ‘I lost my family,'” she said.
The 29-year-old showed reporters small cuts on both of her hands. Her arms remained bandaged.
“It felt like mayne someone poured 2,000-degree water on me,” she said.
The mother of two said she was on a friend’s boat with her husband and sons when the boat’s motor began having issues.
“As I was giving my little one Catch water, he looked at me and said, ‘Mommy, I think something bad is going to happen,'” she said.
Moments later, fuel vapors ignited, causing a fiery explosion.
“All of a sudden, you just see this fuel explosion, and it exploded, and it was gone,” said Rivera.
The concerned parent said she jumped into the water, as frantic witnesses quickly called 911.
“People are panicking, people are in the water,” a called told a dispatcher.
“I didn’t expect anything to happen. It’s a fluke accident. I’ve boated my entire life. I’ve never had it happen. I never expected it to happen,” said Rivera.
Eleven people were rushed to JMH’s specialized burn center in what would be described by doctors as a “mass casualty incident.”
A 29-year-old father of four did not survive.
Dr. Carl Schulman, a burn surgeon at the Miami Burn Center, accompanied Rivera during the news conference.
“There are very few burn centers in the country that could have done what Jackson did that night,” he said.
Schulman provided specialized burn care to Rivera and her two children, ages 5 and 7, who remain at Holtz Children’s Hospital’s intensive care unit.
Four of the patients involved, including Rivera and her two children, are still recovering. Her 7-year-old son, Anthony, was one of the most critical patients, suffering burns on more than 80% of his body, including his face.
“My oldest one has not talked, he’s still intubated. He is alert and oriented throughout this entire process. He knows exactly what’s going on,” said Rivera.
Doctors say Anthony can potentially remain in the hospital for the next few months.
“It breaks your mom-heart to see your child in pain,” said Rivera. “For a while, while I was in the [intensive care unit], I literally doubted myself, and I said, ‘I failed as a mom.'” And I had to come to the realization that there was nothing that I could do.”
Rivera’s 5-year-old son, Cash, suffered fewer burns and is making strides.
She said she suffered burns to her extremities, her fingers, and her toes, adding that she has only left the hospital for three hours in the past two and a half weeks.
“I’m healing at my shoulders, on both sides. My torso and everything was perfectly fine, my left foot is perfectly fine at the toes now, so those are covered, so just slowly but surely,” she said.
As her family embarks on what will be a long road to recovery die to the complexity of their burns, Rivers said she’s hoping to inspire people to not take life for granted.
“Get up every day, tell your family you love them ’cause, you know, you may not be here one day,” she said.
Rivera’s husband has since been discharged.
Rivera said she is currently looking into whether or not she will be pursuing any legal action in relation to the explosion. As for what comes next in terms of her family’s recovery, doctors said they will continue to receive treatment in the coming weeks and months.
The Riveras have set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses. If you would like to make a donation, click here.
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