Coryell Memorial holds remembrance, one year after explosion
By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
Dozens of hospital staff and community members gathered in front of Coryell Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon to remember and honor the lives lost a remembrance ceremony held on the one-year anniversary of the explosion that killed three and injured 13 others.
On June 26, 2018, after 2 p.m., there was an explosion in the boiler and mechanical rooms in the part of the hospital that was under construction. Three workers died as a result and more than a dozen were injured. Michael Bruggman died during the explosion, while Filiberto Morales and Wilber Dimas died later as a result of injuries they sustained during the blast, and 13 others sustained injuries. The explosion was caused by a pocket of gas in the boiler and mechanical rooms and ignited by an unknown source, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office report.
Coryell Health CEO David Byrom shared a message during the brief ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
“We want this to be a moment of remembrance of the families and victims of that day and the horrible tragedies that occurred there, but we also want to remember that this is a day of many blessings,” Byrom said. “God blessed our institution that day. He had his hand on it in a lot of different ways and we realized that quickly because the tragedies and loss of life could have been so much more tremendous.”
Byrom praised the critical thinking and quick actions of the staff who responded immediately following the explosion.
“Those actions and the actions on the part of the community and other support from Central Texas were tremendous at mitigating the loss of life and the other injuries that could have occurred post explosion,” Byrom said.
Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Harrell recognized the first responders especially.
“On that dark day, there was a light and that was you folks,” Harrell said.
Harrell said he was in his office around the corner when the explosion happened and his first thought after hearing the initial noise from the explosion was that Fort Hood was practicing artillery again. After determining that was not the case, Harrell called the different state agencies to assist.
“I’m thinking that although we can never truly heal from this, it makes us a lot more closer in the sense of how we handled it,” Harrell said.
Administering the prayer and words of encouragement for the ceremony was Tim Crosby, a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church across the street.
“When I think of triumph coming out of great tragedy, I can’t help but think of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and the power that was demonstrated in that,” Crosby said. “And I believe that we have that same power, working our lives. We come out of tragedies and difficulties, we don’t have to do it alone, we can stand on the hope that we have and the resurrection of Christ from the dead and I’ve seen this hospital and their employees, and I’ve seen people in our community standing on hope. Not being overcome by despair but finding victory of hope.”
Crosby went on to say he admired how tight-knit Gatesville was.
“People care about each other,” Crosby said. “Whenever tragedy happens, people bind together in unity.”
Crystal Cooper, a clinic nurse manager with Coryell Health, joined dozens of people in attending the ceremony. Cooper responded directly to helping take care of victims and patients following the explosion one year ago, which she described as sudden and scary.
“We saw the victims and responded as quickly as we could to get them to safety and get them help. They were all very brave and very strong and amazing with what they had experienced,” Cooper said.
She called June 26, 2018 “a day I’ll never forget.”
Regarding the rebuilding efforts that have begun again this year, Cooper said she was really excited to see the new growth.
“[I] still have a lot of emotions that come back, especially on this day, that I was kind of unaware of earlier, but I’m proud to be a part of this organization and this community,” Cooper said.