A New Jersey family’s planned excursion to the Turtle Farm Wednesday took a nightmare turn when they were doused in diesel fuel and taken to Cayman Islands Hospital instead.
In the accident, the lid blew off an underground holding tank, spraying the family with diesel, as cruise ship passengers disembarked at the North Terminal downtown.
‘We were waiting to go on a Turtle Farm excursion. We were standing next to the metal plate in the ground and out of nowhere it just blew,’ mom Tomi Issa, 42, explained.
Her son, Albert, 15, was hit on the back with the lid, which then hit his sister Robyn, 8, on the hand. Neither one was seriously injured.
Both children and their mom, along with the rest of the family – dad, Robert, 42; son, Morgan, 12; and grandfather, Henry Kawecki, 76 – were covered in diesel from head to toe.
Niece, Jesse Nowack, 16, was the luckiest one, with some diesel only splashing onto her hand.
The family had nothing but praise for the help they received.
‘An immigration official grabbed us and opened a restroom so we could start rinsing,’ Mrs. Issa said.
Her husband, Robert, added that at least four of them had fuel in their eyes.
The ambulances arrived soon after. Six other tourists were treated at the scene and released.
‘The EMT guys were absolutely fantastic. Everyone was so nice,’ Mrs. Issa said.
The family was treated for diesel on their skin and in their eyes, according to Dr. Fiona Robertson, head of the Accident and Emergency Department.
‘After they visited the ER, they were reassessed in the eye clinic. They were treated and released,’ she said.
Hospital staff washed the family’s clothes several times, but couldn’t get the diesel out. Even their shoes were ruined. The hospital gave them Ivan T-shirts, hospital pants and disposable shoes to wear for the trip back to their ship, Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.
The family was gracious despite their unfortunate experience, which gave them no chance for sightseeing.
‘We got to see your lovely hospital,’ Mrs. Issa said, with no hint of irony.
Jesse was new to Cayman but the rest of the family had visited here once before, as part of another cruise a few years ago.
The events of the day did not dampen their enthusiasm for the island.
‘If we had to have it happen anywhere, we’re lucky to have it happen in Cayman.
‘It was a very shocking experience but everyone did their best to make it better. We’ll be back,’ Mrs. Issa said.
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