Ten Years after the Taiwan Water Park Fire, a Survivor Speaks

TaiwanPlus News

Ten years have passed since a deadly explosion at a New Taipei water park claimed 15 lives and left nearly 500 injured. TaiwanPlus meets one survivor of the Formosa Fun Coast disaster who has turned tragedy into strength and is now living a life more meaningful and beautiful than ever.

Transcript

00:00For 32-year-old Huan Bo Wei, his life changed dramatically a decade ago.

00:10Back then, he was an engineer and basketball enthusiast who enjoyed the speed and excitement on the court.

00:17But one night, tragedy struck.

00:22On June 27, 2015, around 1,000 revelers gathered for a color play party at a water park in New Taipei,

00:31where colorful powder was sprayed over the crowd.

00:34The powder, made of cornstarch, was ignited by the heat of light on the stage in a dust explosion that created a massive fireball.

00:43Fifteen people were killed, and almost 500 others were injured in the deadliest explosion of its kind in Taiwan's history.

00:51The events of that horrific night, remain engraved in Huan's memory.

00:58That whole thing came too fast.

01:00That moment you feel like a dream.

01:02You have a bit of a difference between the reality and the dream.

01:06But in the next minute, you have a lightness and pain.

01:10It makes you realize what happened.

01:13But when we are in the party, we can't see any direction.

01:18Our image is very light.

01:21Even if you want to run away, you don't know what direction you want.

01:24You don't know what direction you want.

01:25You don't know what direction you want.

01:26So we can only run away from the fire.

01:29Huang was burned on over 90% of his body, leaving him with only a 5% chance of survival.

01:36Doctors treating him were torn between continuing aggressive treatment or letting him go.

01:42But Huang was determined to fight, even if it meant losing both his arms and legs.

01:48From the beginning, they told me to leave the hospital.

01:51When I heard that moment, I didn't want to choose that one.

01:55From the beginning, I felt that I would never be轻易 to leave the hospital.

02:00After I went to the hospital, I felt that I was more confident.

02:03We don't know what the world is going to die.

02:06I don't want to try again.

02:08I would never be轻易 to leave the hospital.

02:10Determined to survive, Huang underwent countless rounds of treatment and surgical procedures,

02:17including skin grafts and debridement.

02:20He even agreed to amputate three limbs to save his life.

02:24He was in the hospital for over 200 days, but his recovery took another two years.

02:31Despite the pain he endured, Huang never thought of giving up.

02:35Instead, he was determined to show he could still do what able-bodied people can do.

02:39He learned how to live on his own, even adopting a cat.

02:45And in 2017, he joined an expedition to the top of Mount HeHuan in central Taiwan,

02:533,400 meters high.

02:57Actually, when I was at the top of the mountain, it was not true.

03:03Because you wouldn't realize that you were going to leave this world.

03:08But you would think that you can still breathe in a very natural way of breathing.

03:14I think that's a very true feeling.

03:18The Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation, an organization that specializes in helping burn survivors,

03:24is full of praise for Huang's attitude.

03:27I think it's very little to see that he has a particularly sorrowful,

03:30or maybe a bad feeling.

03:33I think that he always knew what he wanted to do.

03:37He would always talk to us.

03:38He would talk to us.

03:39It's also that if he wants to achieve something in life,

03:41what he wants to achieve.

03:43He would talk to us about what he wants to achieve.

03:46Huang is one of the most severe burn cases from the water park explosion.

03:52The majority of survivors experienced at least 40% burns.

03:56It was a devastating night for the casualties and their families,

04:00as well as the medical staff who attended them.

04:04He would say,

04:06He would say,

04:07He would say,

04:08I have told him that I'm glad we've ever seen on it.

04:12Some haveасти關 prove that their families are all the same.

04:13Some will allow their families to daomnium.

04:18I am going to let my head to their大哥.

04:32To do that i can't say anything,

04:34we still are having to cry.

04:36Recovering from burns is a long and painful journey.

04:39Even after healing, the injuries can have a significant and lasting impact on mental health,

04:45leading to issues including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

04:55Looking back on his recovery journey, it was painful and tough.

05:00But that experience helped Huang begin a new chapter filled with hope and accomplishment.

05:22Through the scars and memories from that terrible night remain,

05:25there are also proof that Huang is not just a burned survivor but also a fighter,

05:30who will continue to inspire others with this story.

05:36I'm Xuanzanichi for Tauan Plus.

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