25-year-old Rick has recovered from the initial shock after an explosion occurred on his motor yacht in Oudenbosch last Saturday. The victim suffered quite a few burns, but it will do him good that local people and friends have started a fundraiser.
The crowdfunding was conceived by people who know Rick from the port of Oudenbosch, where the explosion took place. Then Rick’s friends started raising money through gofund.me.
Sven Siemons (26) is good friends with Rick and he knows how sorry his buddy is about what happened on Saturday. “He has been living on that boat for years and has invested a lot of time and energy in it,” says Sven. “Rick used to be in Delfshaven in Rotterdam, among other places, but over time found it more fun to moor in Oudenbosch, with friends and family.”
There, in the harbor of Oudenbosch, things went very wrong on Saturday morning, Sven knows. “Rick was doing odd jobs, painting and all that, when it all of a sudden exploded. Fortunately, he always wears glasses while working and had a jacket on that morning. Despite this, he suffered third-degree burns all over his body. He was approachable and was taken to the Bravis hospital in Roosendaal for treatment. He only recovered somewhat this Monday.”
Rick was the only one on the boat when the blast happened. The fire service was able to quickly extinguish the fire. The explosion may have been caused by a gas cylinder. The boat has not sunk. An appraiser will come to assess the damage later this week. It is not yet clear whether Rick is insured and the damage can be covered.
In the short term, more important things count: the recovery from his injuries, a temporary shelter and finances to get through the days. Sven: “Because of the explosion and the fire, Rick really lost everything: his wallet, his clothes, his computer, photos, you name it. That is why we started the campaign to raise money.” The first 1,600 of the intended 17,500 euros have been received.