Navy remembers HMCS Kootenay disaster
Posted Oct 23, 2013 02:07:14 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HMCS Kootenay suffered a disastrous explosion and fire, killing 9 sailors and injuring dozens, 44 years ago Wednesday.
The accident surpassed any marine explosions at the time.
Survivors of the devastating explosion came together to mark the event with a commemorative ceremony.
Allen “Dinger” Bell was in the engine room on board the Kootenay when the fire broke out.
“There was ten of us in the engine room and only three of us got out alive,” said Bell. “Everyone was on fire. It was a very hard situation. Everyone wanted to live, lets put it that way.”
Bell said it’s important to remember the fellow sailors who lost their lives that fateful day.
Wednesday was a chance to remember the tragic explosion and reflect on the past, said Rear Admiral John Newton, Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic.
“You always have to reflect on the history to be able to see your way to a future,” said Newton.
