The Itaewon stampede in Seoul, South Korea, on October 29, reportedly killed 154 people, including 26 foreigners. According to the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, at least two Americans died in the stampede, but the State Department declined to name the two dead. Subsequently, Steven Blacey's family posted his death on social media.
It is reported that Steven, 20 years old this year, is a junior at Kennesaw State University in the United States, and only applied to South Korea as an exchange student in August this year. However, in less than 3 months, the young life came to an abrupt end in this accident.
Less than 3 months after coming to Korea
The last text message was sent half an hour before the incident
According to reports, Steven and friends went to Itaewon to celebrate Halloween that day, during which friends left, but Steven chose to stay there, which became more and more crowded, and eventually an accident occurred, taking his life forever.
Steven's father recalled that his son had sent him a message half an hour before the incident, saying that he had just finished his midterm exam and was about to go to celebrate Halloween with friends to relax. He simply replied to tell Steven to be safe. Unexpectedly, the father said: "That was the last text message between us. ”
Steven's father said: "My wife and I just came back from the supermarket on Saturday, and my eldest son asked if we had seen the news of Itaewon, and asked Steven's situation. ”
After learning of the accident, they have been frantically searching for their son's whereabouts, "We keep calling, but no one answers." A police officer finally answered the phone and said that the police had found Steven's cell phone in Itaewon, and they were still hopeful that their son might be in the hospital, but unfortunately, they finally received bad news.
In the hours that followed, the family was in pain. They then called the U.S. Embassy and the head of the study abroad program to inform them of the news, and tweeted a photo of their son. "I didn't expect this to happen, I didn't understand why no one was sent to control the crowd, and I didn't even know how it all happened."
↑ Steven and his father
Father: The current home is "in tatters"
It's hard to let go for the rest of your life
Steven's family said that from the beginning of his freshman year, Steven had always dreamed of going abroad for a semester. In August of this year, he finally successfully applied for an exchange opportunity at Hanyang University in Seoul. After saying goodbye to his family at Atlanta Airport, Steven excitedly embarked on his flight to Seoul.
When he saw Steven off, his parents burst into tears and took a photo with their son. In one of the photos, Steven is looking back with a smile on the escalator.
↑ Steven
Steven likes to play basketball and has pets such as geckos and turtles, and he hopes to become a practitioner in international trade after graduation.
His 62-year-old father said in an interview with the media: "My youngest son is outgoing and adventurous, and this exchange trip to South Korea is the first big adventure of his life." His adventurous spirit was even evident in his childhood, when his father said: "When you walk into a store, you have to keep an eye on him, otherwise there will be no one for a while." ”
Steven and his brother Joey have a good relationship, the two are only a little over a year old, and they are best friends. According to those around him, Steven is broad-minded, carefree, and righteous. For Steven's father, the current home is "broken", and he will be immersed in the pain of losing his young son for the rest of his life, and it is difficult to let go.
It is reported that another American killed in the accident was Anne Giske, a nursing junior at the University of Kentucky. On Sunday, local time, the school announced the news of his death while studying abroad. It is understood that Anne traveled to South Korea through the school's study abroad program, and the other two students who accompanied her were unharmed. The day before the death, Anne had just celebrated her 20th birthday.
↑ The day before the death, Anne had just celebrated her 20th birthday
Red Star News reporter Wang Yalin intern Liang Hong
Editor Guan Li Peng Jiang
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