What to Know
- Tiran Jackson, whose wife Maleka Grimes was killed in the Bahamas tour boat explosion, was airlifted to a South Florida hospital
- Also airlifted were Stefanie Schaffer, a lifelong ballet dancer who lost both of her legs in the blast, and her mother, Stacey Bender
Three of the victims injured in the Bahamas boat explosion, including a ballet dancer who lost her legs and a man whose wife was killed, have been flown to a South Florida hospital for treatment.
Tiran Jackson, whose wife Maleka Grimes was killed when the tour boat exploded minutes into a day trip around the small islands near Great Exuma, was airlifted to Broward Health Medical Center, officials said.
Doctors said Tuesday they were forced to amputate his foot due to his injuries.
"The injury that he sustained was to his left ankle. He had significant soft tissue loss and bone tissue loss and injury to his artery and nerves so that foot was not salvageable," Dr. Igor Nichiporenko said.
Also airlifted to the hospital were 22-year-old Stefanie Schaffer, a recent college graduate and lifelong ballet dancer who underwent a double amputation, and her mother, Stacey Bender.
Officials say 10 U.S. citizens and two Bahamian crew members were on the boat when it exploded Saturday, injuring nine people. Authorities are trying to determine what caused the blast.
Grimes, 39, and Jackson were on their 15th anniversary trip when the explosion happened.
"As you can imagine this an incredibly difficult time for the family, especially Tiran and Maleka’s 12-year-old son," the family said in a statement Tuesday. "The family extends their gratitude to the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas for their continued assistance and asks for privacy as they continue their journey to healing."
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Schaffer's sister and step-father were also injured in the blast. Brian Schaffer, Stefanie's uncle, told NBC News in a Skype interview that his niece was seated right above the location of the blast and sustained life-threatening injuries, including broken bones and internal injuries, and had both legs amputated at the knees.
"I don't think she knows she doesn't have any legs left," Brian Schaffer said, holding back tears.
