A 22-year-old American dancer had both legs amputated as the result of a fatal tour boat explosion while she was visiting the Bahamas with her family.
The incident, which took place Saturday, took one life and injured nine others.
Twelve people were on board the vessel when the explosion happened: 10 Americans and two Bahamians, according to the Royal Bahamas police force. Only one escaped injury.
Dancer Stefanie Schaffer was on board with her sister Brooke and their parents, Stacey and Paul Bender, during the incident. Both Brooke and her father sustained minor bumps and bruises, WABC reported.
Stacey sustained internal injuries and multiple bone fractures.
Stefanie received the brunt of the family’s injuries, which were life-threatening. After the amputations, she remains in a medically induced coma.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Stefanie and her mother, which, as of late Monday afternoon had accumulated more than $67,000 of the $100,000 goal.
Maleka Jackson was identified as the single fatality. She was on board the excursion boat to celebrate her 15th wedding anniversary with her husband, Tyran, WABC reported.
The Port Department for the government of the Bahamas conducts annual inspections of all vessels, not just those for commercial use.
Folks on social media were saddened and horrified, and offered their thoughts and prayers.
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