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American Morning
Tragic Anniversary
Aired February 20, 2004 - 09:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The 100 people who perished a year ago tonight in a Rhode Island nightclub fire will be remembered during memorial services. Donovan Williams escaped, but just barely, when The Station nightclub went up in flames. He suffered fifth-degree burns. Doctors gave him only a 30 percent of survival. Donovan Williams has defied the medical odds. He's our guest live in Hartford, Connecticut.
Great to see you. Good morning to you.
DONOVAN WILLIAMS, SURVIVED NIGHTCLUB FIRE: Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: What do you remember from that night?
WILLIAMS: From when it started, I got there 10 minutes before the show started, went in, and I went to where the sound board was in the middle of the club. The show started and the pyros ignited, and the foam on the back of the walls caught fire.
Now, most of the people didn't start moving right away. The band was still playing. Once the fire alarm went off, I think that's when most of the people started, you know, hitting the exits. That's when I went and turned to the go to the front door. There was a pile-up in the front door. I basically was, like, moving with the crowd. I was almost outside, and the -- everybody just collapsed. I don't know, somebody said the floor gave out, but I think it was just a matter of people piling in together.
HEMMER: Let me recall some of your words, if I could. I want to quote you: "I remember thinking I could not believe this is how I'm going to die. I said goodbye to my wife and kids and blacked out." How did you get out?
WILLIAMS: I don't know how long I was out. The next thing I remember is feeling water hit my head. I looked out and stuck my right arm out, and that's when somebody had pulled me out. I don't know who it was, and I know there was a fireman to the left of him, which is to the right of me. They pulled me out, hosed me down on the front steps there, and I walked to the ambulance. I remember walking backwards and just screaming at the building, that there was more people in there, but I hopped in the ambulance.
HEMMER: I know you lost some of your vision, and I know your hand still has a bit of difficulty, too, in terms of movement. I was struck by one of the things you told our producer. You say you have no stress in your life today. Explain that. WILLIAMS: I guess it's really hard to explain. I don't know if it's not stress, but I don't know, you just -- just the more appreciation for life now, where things that bothered you before, like, you know, something spilling on the rug or something like that is, you know, no big deal, you snow
HEMMER: How are you going to deal with the memorial tonight? Are you going to be OK?
WILLIAMS: Yes, I mean, I'm OK. I have my oldest son spending a few days with me, so I'll be with him tonight and playing Trivial Pursuit or whatever we'll be doing.
HEMMER: Our best to you. Win all the pies in that game, will you?
WILLIAMS: He won last night.
HEMMER: Oh, he did? Well, maybe you'll get revenge. Donovan Williams, thanks for sharing.
Best to you.
WILLIAMS: Thank you, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 20, 2004 - 09:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The 100 people who perished a year ago tonight in a Rhode Island nightclub fire will be remembered during memorial services. Donovan Williams escaped, but just barely, when The Station nightclub went up in flames. He suffered fifth-degree burns. Doctors gave him only a 30 percent of survival. Donovan Williams has defied the medical odds. He's our guest live in Hartford, Connecticut.
Great to see you. Good morning to you.
DONOVAN WILLIAMS, SURVIVED NIGHTCLUB FIRE: Thanks, Bill.
HEMMER: What do you remember from that night?
WILLIAMS: From when it started, I got there 10 minutes before the show started, went in, and I went to where the sound board was in the middle of the club. The show started and the pyros ignited, and the foam on the back of the walls caught fire.
Now, most of the people didn't start moving right away. The band was still playing. Once the fire alarm went off, I think that's when most of the people started, you know, hitting the exits. That's when I went and turned to the go to the front door. There was a pile-up in the front door. I basically was, like, moving with the crowd. I was almost outside, and the -- everybody just collapsed. I don't know, somebody said the floor gave out, but I think it was just a matter of people piling in together.
HEMMER: Let me recall some of your words, if I could. I want to quote you: "I remember thinking I could not believe this is how I'm going to die. I said goodbye to my wife and kids and blacked out." How did you get out?
WILLIAMS: I don't know how long I was out. The next thing I remember is feeling water hit my head. I looked out and stuck my right arm out, and that's when somebody had pulled me out. I don't know who it was, and I know there was a fireman to the left of him, which is to the right of me. They pulled me out, hosed me down on the front steps there, and I walked to the ambulance. I remember walking backwards and just screaming at the building, that there was more people in there, but I hopped in the ambulance.
HEMMER: I know you lost some of your vision, and I know your hand still has a bit of difficulty, too, in terms of movement. I was struck by one of the things you told our producer. You say you have no stress in your life today. Explain that. WILLIAMS: I guess it's really hard to explain. I don't know if it's not stress, but I don't know, you just -- just the more appreciation for life now, where things that bothered you before, like, you know, something spilling on the rug or something like that is, you know, no big deal, you snow
HEMMER: How are you going to deal with the memorial tonight? Are you going to be OK?
WILLIAMS: Yes, I mean, I'm OK. I have my oldest son spending a few days with me, so I'll be with him tonight and playing Trivial Pursuit or whatever we'll be doing.
HEMMER: Our best to you. Win all the pies in that game, will you?
WILLIAMS: He won last night.
HEMMER: Oh, he did? Well, maybe you'll get revenge. Donovan Williams, thanks for sharing.
Best to you.
WILLIAMS: Thank you, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
