Fort McMurray explosion injures Cape Breton man
CBC News | Posted: January 18, 2016 3:39 PM | Last Updated: January 18, 2016
Dave Williams, 30, in hospital following explosion at Nexen Long lake project
A man from Scotchtown, Cape Breton, has been identified as the worker critically injured in an explosion in Fort McMurray on Friday.
Dave Williams, 30, is a journeyman millwright at the Nexen Long Lake project.
The company said he and another worker were refitting valves on a compressor at the facility that converts hydrocarbon into a lighter oil. The second man was killed in the blast and has been identified as Drew Foster, 52.
Williams's cousin, Kelly MacEachern, said he sustained third-degree burns to 90 per cent of the front of his body. She said the family has been told that Williams dug himself out of the rubble of the explosion.
MacEachern said the family was told that Williams "had a good chance" of surviving if he made it through the first 48 hours, which have now passed. She said a CT scan showed "he has a young, good, strong heart. He is a fighter."
Williams is still in critical condition. MacEachern said "he had some complications last night. They were supposed to do some surgery this morning, but it got cancelled."
Williams was not supposed to be on the job Friday, she said, but "went in for an extra shift."
Williams's parents, his brother and an aunt are by his side at the hospital while MacEachern and other family members are flying to Edmonton today.