Family holds out hope that worker is alive
John MANCHESTER, OHIO— Fitzgerald hasn’t lost hope thathis brother, Jamie, could still be alive beneath Killen Generating Station after it collapsed inManchester on Dec. 9.
“Everyone is focused on getting him out, getting him home. Onewayortheother,” he said.
In pictures, John holds on to precious moments of his younger brother, whom he described as adevoted father and generous man with a great sense of humor.
“Goofball. Always into something. Smiling. Always laughing, acting silly,” he said.
But it could be another month before crews are able to find Jamie. AdamoGroup, the demolition firmworking at the decommissioned Killen Power Station, released a statementMonday saying itmay take until late January to recover Jamie. John said the family was beyond devastated to learn the news.
“I literally broke down,” he said. “There’s no way that I can leave my brother lay there for another two, three, four weeks. If I have to go in myself -- I want him out of there.”
Johnknows Jamie is tough, and he has faith that his brother could make it out alive.
“We’re still hoping and praying he’s in there,” he said. “Hoping and praying thatwe get him out alive. We haven’t givenup. Hewouldn’t give up on us. We’re not giving up on him.”
As crews continue to remove the wreckage, John wants folks to think of the man, with a fiancéeandthree kids, still inside.
“It’s not just a building being torn down. It’s not just metal moving. There’s someone in there that may be wanting out.”
Fitzgerald’s family and friends were planning to be at the site again at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Crews rescued three trapped men on the day of the collapse, who were hospitalized in stable condition. Threedays later, crews recovered the body ofClyde Douglas Gray.