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‘It was just horrific,’ Midlothian mom among first responders of NC deck collapse

Posted at 6:55 PM, Jul 06, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-07 05:46:41-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va -- A Chesterfield family left for their Emerald Isle, North Carolina vacation last weekend worried about sharks, and ended it Saturday, responding to a massive deck collapse at their neighbor's beach rental.

"We were all packing trying to get ready having dinner and then go out and watch some fireworks, my husband and my brother in law were both downstairs they heard the horrific screams more than the sound they heard just horrible screams," said Lisa Hahn, Chesterfield resident vacationing next door to NC deck collapse. "My husband came running up the stairs just screaming call 911," added Hahn.

Hahn, her family and extended family ran outside to find close to two dozen people they shared the beach with last week, severely injured.

"We were calling and running and when we turned the corner just to see the multitude of just so many people so hurt, it was just horrific," said Hahn.

Multiple generations of an extended family posing for a picture for their grandmother's 94th Birthday, had fallen 10 feet after a deck collapsed.

"The dad was taking the picture and he was just absolutely, I don't know the word beside himself," said Hahn.  "We were there and hugging him and trying to get him through and he was pointing out his members of his family and how this couldn't happen that they had been vacationing there every other year for many many years ," added Hahn.

The Hahns and their family led emergency responders to the most critically injured while their kids were comforting the youngest victims.

"Everybody went around trying to help console, let them know help is coming just hang in there help is coming," said Hahn. "You can't do much because you don't want to move anybody, you know they had just fallen so you can't do a whole lot," added Hahn. "Towels trying to stop the bleeding on one and just to be there," Hahn said.

While Hahn worries about her 16-year-old son, teenage nieces and goddaughters, her heart is with the family she called her neighbor for a week, but will remember for a lifetime.

"I just want them to know just how much we are thinking of them and praying for them, said Hahn.  "If something good can come out of this, to make sure that they start inspecting those homes annually," added Hahn.

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