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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview With Harold Panciera, Nightclub Fire Survivor
Aired February 22, 2003 - 07:32 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.
HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: For now, if possible, we'd like to go back to one of the survivors who got out of the Station nightclub in Rhode Island, and that is Harold Panciera.
Thank you so much for standing by, Mr. Panciera, we appreciate it very much.
I just want to know, you've talked quite a bit about what it was like being inside. Is there any sort of comfort that you have? I believe that I heard you were able to help some people. Can you tell us about that?
HAROLD PANCIERA, NIGHTCLUB FIRE SURVIVOR: Yes, as a matter of fact, I was able to help one individual. When I escaped the fire, I turned around. The building was an inferno, smoke pluming out of every exit. You could not see. All I could hear was the shrieks and screams of people. It was something out of a horror movie. It was -- you can't even imagine.
I went back, I hollered in one entrance where the smoke was bellowing out. There was an individual that was screaming, in particular, that was semiclose. I had no way of getting access to this man, so I took snow, and I leaned in the doorway, and I was throwing snow in all different directions. I was fortunately able to hit this man with snow, and I was telling him to come to the snow.
The man was screaming for his life. He was telling me he was on fire, he was burning, I can't get out, I can't walk. Fortunately enough, the man was able to make it within about five feet from the doorway, where I was able to reach in, put this man over my shoulder, and escape the building with him. He was so badly burned, he was almost unrecognizable.
As I brought him through the parking lot, there were bodies strewn everywhere. It was something that was -- it looked like a horror movie. I didn't know where to put this man down. There were people that were unrecognizable, smoldering in the parking lot, in the road, victims looking for survivors and family members. You could hear screams of people in this entire inferno.
It was just a horrifying, terrifying experience that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I'm sure that everyone that attended that function will never forget that.
And I will have to tell you that the fire department and other people that did escape unscathed came and did anything and everything they could to comfort the victims that were so badly burned, and to help the people that were piled up at the entrance of this establishment.
It was really something that was really unbelievable. People just really cannot fathom the terror and horror that occurred that evening at this very -- at this establishment.
On (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
COLLINS: Harold Panciera, we are very thankful and happy that you made it out alive, and we certainly do appreciate your time here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Thank you so very much.
PANCIERA: You're welcome.
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 22, 2003 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: For now, if possible, we'd like to go back to one of the survivors who got out of the Station nightclub in Rhode Island, and that is Harold Panciera.
Thank you so much for standing by, Mr. Panciera, we appreciate it very much.
I just want to know, you've talked quite a bit about what it was like being inside. Is there any sort of comfort that you have? I believe that I heard you were able to help some people. Can you tell us about that?
HAROLD PANCIERA, NIGHTCLUB FIRE SURVIVOR: Yes, as a matter of fact, I was able to help one individual. When I escaped the fire, I turned around. The building was an inferno, smoke pluming out of every exit. You could not see. All I could hear was the shrieks and screams of people. It was something out of a horror movie. It was -- you can't even imagine.
I went back, I hollered in one entrance where the smoke was bellowing out. There was an individual that was screaming, in particular, that was semiclose. I had no way of getting access to this man, so I took snow, and I leaned in the doorway, and I was throwing snow in all different directions. I was fortunately able to hit this man with snow, and I was telling him to come to the snow.
The man was screaming for his life. He was telling me he was on fire, he was burning, I can't get out, I can't walk. Fortunately enough, the man was able to make it within about five feet from the doorway, where I was able to reach in, put this man over my shoulder, and escape the building with him. He was so badly burned, he was almost unrecognizable.
As I brought him through the parking lot, there were bodies strewn everywhere. It was something that was -- it looked like a horror movie. I didn't know where to put this man down. There were people that were unrecognizable, smoldering in the parking lot, in the road, victims looking for survivors and family members. You could hear screams of people in this entire inferno.
It was just a horrifying, terrifying experience that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I'm sure that everyone that attended that function will never forget that.
And I will have to tell you that the fire department and other people that did escape unscathed came and did anything and everything they could to comfort the victims that were so badly burned, and to help the people that were piled up at the entrance of this establishment.
It was really something that was really unbelievable. People just really cannot fathom the terror and horror that occurred that evening at this very -- at this establishment.
On (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
COLLINS: Harold Panciera, we are very thankful and happy that you made it out alive, and we certainly do appreciate your time here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Thank you so very much.
PANCIERA: You're welcome.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
