ANACORTES - In less than 24 hours a community will remember the victims of the Tesoro refinery explosion in Anacortes, and sadly now all seven of them after the last survivor died early Saturday morning.
34 year old Matt Gumbel had been in the intensive care unit since he suffered serious burns in the refinery explosion. It wasn't the news Margaret Mordhorst wanted to learn.
"We're so sad to hear he didn't make it," said Mordhorst.
Overcome with grief friends of Matt Gumbel are remembering the Oak Harbor native as a wonderful and caring person. Jenny Watterson says he will be missed by the entire community.
"It's just heartbreaking the whole situation is tragic you never expect it to happen at home," said Watterson.
Gumbel was seriously burned in the April 2 refinery explosion. He underwent skin graft surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle late yesterday but died early this morning.
Today, the Gumbel family reached out to the community through the social media site CaringBridge.org to express their sorrow over losing Matt. The message read: "Matt was a wonderful person, son, brother, uncle, grandson, friend, and co-worker. We will truly miss him and never forget him."
Jamie Mami went to school with Gumbel her heart goes out to his loved ones.
"I feel really sad for the family they've been through so much since this happened and they're such a strong family," said Mami.
At Anacortes High School the community is preparing for tomorrow's memorial service for now all of the victims. Jamie Mami expects a huge turnout.
"I think people are going to come from everywhere to come back to town to do what needs to be done to pay their respects to say a goodbye," said Mami.
Gumbel is the last of 7 people that have died as a result of the Tesoro refinery explosion. It was the deadliest accident at a U.S. refinery since 2005.
29 year old Kathryn Powell of Burlington was one of the victims. Today on Gumbel's CaringBridge site Powell's family offered their prayers and sympathy for their loss. That deep emotion is felt by others in the tight-knit community like Rawson Mordhorst.
"Empathize with the people, it's very sad," Mordhorst.
Tesoro Company Officials say the seven workers were injured while doing routine maintenance on a unit that processes highly flammable liquid. What sparked the deadly firewall is still under investigation.
Matt Gumbel had a daughter and was supposed to get married later this summer.
The memorial service for all of the refinery explosion victims is happening Sunday at Anacortes High School from 2 PM until 4 PM and is open to the public.
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