ORLANDO, Fla. — The sole survivor of the December explosion and fire at a fireworks warehouse in Orange County has gone home from the hospital.
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The father of Lindsey Tallafuss says the woman has been discharged from Orlando Regional Medical Center. He says she still has a long way to go in terms of recovery, but coming home is a big step, and he thanked the team at ORMC for keeping her alive.
Tallafuss, 27, was at the Magic in the Sky fireworks company off Central Florida Parkway on Dec. 1 when the explosion happened, sparking the large fire at the warehouse. Five people were rescued that night, but Tallafuss was the only one to survive.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by her friends, Tallafuss suffered burns on 62% of her body. She had to be put on dialysis and into a coma to help her heal.
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Last week on the GoFundMe page, the family said Lindsey was walking and talking.
Tallafuss’s father called her recovery a miracle.
“I wasn’t a spiritual person before, but now I am,” he said.
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Tallafuss’ brother told News 6 that she was moved to the critical care unit for two weeks before being moved to rehabilitation for about a week. She finally walked out of the hospital on Friday, he said.
“We are blown away by her progress,” he told News 6. “(She’s) still pretty traumatized by being sedated for so long and waking up to her friends being gone, but she’s really doing amazing.”
Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe says the company did not have a permit to store fireworks in the warehouse. Online records show the warehouse had a permit to store furniture, and there was a request for a pool supply permit.
News 6 has reached out to get an update on the investigation into the fire. We are waiting to hear back.
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