Ocean Isle, NC Beach House Fire Survivor Speaks About The Last Year Since The Fire
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Ocean Isle, NC Beach House Fire Survivor Speaks...
It was almost one year ago, on October 28th, when seven college students from South Carolina died in a North Carolina beach house fire. Now, friends and family members are remembering the victims,...
It was almost one year ago, on October 28th, when seven college students from South Carolina died in a North Carolina beach house fire. Now, friends and family members are remembering the victims, with new events to raise money for scholarships, in their honor. The first Carolina Remembrance Concert was Thursday night, in Columbia. It was to include a slide show to remember the six USC students, and one Clemson student, who died in the Ocean Isle beach fire, last year. WJBF News Channel 6’s Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has an exclusive interview with one of the survivors of that fire, about the last year for him, and what he wants everyone to know about the victims.
Published: October 23, 2008
Columbia, SC—Outside the S.A.E. fraternity house at USC, the flagpole has a memorial marker for Travis Cale, Justin Anderson, and Will Rhea. And inside, is their portrait…fraternity brothers…together…forever. But, Tripp Wylie doesn’t need those to remind him.
Tripp Wylie, Ocean Isle beach house fire survivor: “It’s always on my mind. I’m sure it’s on a lot of people’s minds.“
He was inside this Ocean Isle beach house when it went up in flames, almost a year ago, killing seven of his friends.
Besides his fraternity brothers, USC students Cassidy Pendley, Allison Walden, and Lauren Mahon, and Clemson student Emily Yelton died in the fire. He survived only because he woke up, and jumped from a third-floor window into a canal. Now, as we’re almost at the first anniversary of the fire, USC is holding the first Carolina Remembrance Concert for the seven victims.
Tripp wants everyone to know what was lost.
Tripp Wylie: “If you did not know them, what you need to know about them now is these were probably some of the seven finest individuals you would ever meet. They just had a lot of potential. You just knew they were going to do something in life, and, you know, have an impact on many people.“
And they continue to have an impact. Proceeds from sponsorships and t-shirt sales, and from a bike-a-thon, this weekend, will go to a scholarship fund in their memory. Going through this ordeal has changed Tripp, by helping him seize life.
Tripp Wylie: “They didn’t have the chance to do it, so I should just take the opportunity and take advantage of me being here and do everything that I possibly can.“
And his memories, and tributes like this concert have helped him through the past year.
Tripp Wylie: “It’s definitely been a roller coaster ride, but I hold on to the good things, so that helps, for sure.“
Investigators were never able to find out what caused that fire, although they think it started on the back deck of the house.
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