Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/23
By: S.F. Wang and Lillian Lin
Kaohsiung, July 23 (CNA) Standing firmly on his prosthetic right foot, Hsu Yen-hsiang (徐晏祥)
recounts the moment when he woke after he was injured in the August 1, 2014 gas explosion in Kaohsiung and says he hopes his story can bring hope and comfort to the victims of a recent flash fire at a New Taipei water park.
In an interview recorded by the Kaohsiung rehabilitation center of the Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation, Hsu said he lost his right foot and sustained third degree burn over 66 percent of his body when a series of underground gas explosions ripped through the streets of Kaohsiung last year.
The Kaohsiung gas explosion claimed the lives of 33 people and injured 300, 51 of whom have been receiving rehabilitation training at the Sunshine center.
Hsu said he would like the story of his survival and rehabilitation to serve as an inspiration to other burn victims, particularly the hundreds who were injured June 27 in an explosion of colored corn starch during a party at the Formosa Fun Coast water park (八仙樂園) in New Taipei. [FULL STORY]