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a year after taiwan water park explosion, recovery continues for n.h. man

by:Marslite     2019-09-17
MONT VERNON, N. H. (AP)—
A year ago, in New Hampshire, far from home, Alex Haas burned more than 90% of his body at a water park party in Taiwan, and he was fighting for his life.
A flammable colored powder sprayed from the stage on the audience of the University --
Older people dance in the dry pool.
In an instant, the powder becomes a fireball, spreading the burning dust on Haas and many others.
Investigators believe it is in contact with the intense heat generated by the stage lights and is ignited.
Nearly 500 people were injured in June 27, 2015.
Fifteen of them died.
Since then, party organizers have been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Most of the wounded have been discharged from the hospital, but physical and emotional scars need rehabilitation and a new burn treatment center will be open for them on Monday.
Taiwan also plans to hold a memorial concert on Sunday.
Haas, who teaches English in Taiwan, is considered the only American injured.
At a hospital in Taipei, he was covered with a bandage and was in a coma for two weeks.
His family flew in with him from the small town of Mount Vernon, fearing that the situation would be worse.
Today his scars are healing and he has recovered most of his mobility.
He can drive, walk his dog and work on art projects.
Haas, 27, said in a recent interview at home: \"I feel that I have had a good time on my way back to me again . \".
Haas clearly remembers the day of the Formosa Mosha marine park fire: Walking into the dust, the dust constantly reburnsigniting;
His hair and beard caught fire. running away.
His hands, underarms, torso, knees, legs and feet were burned.
Slowly, he began to improve.
He was able to return to the United States two months later, but he still needed a lot of care to help with his wounds and movements.
He has had at least a dozen surgeries, including laser treatments for scars.
He started these studies at the Massachusetts General Hospital in December.
\"A lot of the pain is gone,\" he said . \".
Impressed by his recovery
Henry Lin, director of rehabilitation and post-treatment for new burns
The acute care center of Xinbei City Hospital, built by the municipal government, aims to help the victims recover.
\"He can do anything himself,\" Lin said in an email . \".
\"I think the first acute care hospital in Taiwan, the continuous care hospital (
In Massachusetts)
Local hospitals that offer daily physical therapy are doing very well!
\"Good family and social support, coupled with haas\'s optimism, also helps,\" he said.
Lin recently spent some time at various burn care centers in the United States, including the John Hopkins Burn Center in Maryland, visiting Haas.
His center and the University of John Hopkins have agreed to establish clinical, academic and educational cooperation.
After last year\'s fire, John Hopkins visited 12 hospitals in Taiwan and returned this year, focusing on the rehabilitation of patients.
In Taiwan, a judge said the party\'s organizers
Chi did not take precautions to prevent the explosion.
He was sued by the National Health Insurance Administration for $14 million.
Haas\'s family has been keeping an eye on the victim\'s recovery, like in the ICU where a teenage girl is in the room next to him.
They sent her a care package.
\"Fixing the emotional burden of this tragedy is another task that deserves our attention,\" they posted on Facebook . \".
\"All of us, the families of the victims and many others have been deeply affected by this tragedy and have embarked on a terrible path.
Lai Changxing, an Associated Press reporter in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to the report.
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