Winnipegger severely burned, broken in Hawaii barbecue explosion, eight others injured

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This article was published 25/02/2025 (224 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man is in a Hawaii hospital with severe burns and fractured bones after a suspected gas-barbecue explosion while vacationing at a beachside condominium complex.

Darren Stevenson, who faces a lengthy hospital stay for treatment of life-altering injuries, was initially in critical condition after the blast in Maui last Thursday.

“It’s a miracle that he survived. It’s just unbelievable,” longtime friend Randy Van de Mosselaer told the Free Press Tuesday. “(Darren) was in front of the grill. He was just barbecuing dinner… and a huge explosion went off. He was thrown about 30 feet in the air.”

Stevenson’s wife, Diane, had gone back to the couple’s condo to retrieve an item when the blast happened. She returned to “complete chaos” in a common area that has multiple grills and patio tables.

“It’s lucky she wasn’t there as well,” said Van de Mosselaer who, along with his wife Jackie, vacationed with the Stevensons in Maui before returning home the day before the incident.

“I was in shock when I heard it because we only just got home. I thought, ‘This can’t be true, it can’t be real.’”

A preliminary investigation suggested the explosion at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach may have involved liquefied petroleum gas, which the barbecues use as fuel, the Maui Police Department said in a news release.

Police said witnesses told officers a grill malfunction may have occurred before the blast.

“The investigation remains ongoing, and we continue to work diligently with our fire counterparts to gather and analyze information,” police spokeswoman Alana Pico told the Free Press Tuesday.

Bystanders helped police provide life-saving care and first aid to victims until paramedics and firefighters arrived.

“Darren’s a guy that puts everyone else ahead of himself … I’ve never seen a man with so much love for his wife. When he first saw her after the (explosion), his first words to her were, ‘I’m sorry.’”–Randy Van de Mosselaer

Nine people were hospitalized, a hospital official told local media. Three patients were initially in critical condition, police said.

Stevenson, the chief financial officer at Palliser Furniture, was airlifted to a hospital in Oahu, where he has undergone multiple surgeries and is now conscious, his friend said.

Stevenson suffered complex head, chest and leg fractures and will require additional surgeries, including skin grafting, and intensive rehabilitation, Van de Mosselaer said.

The 59-year-old father is writing messages to communicate with his wife and hospital staff after surgery to repair a broken jaw that will be wired shut for several weeks.

It’s not yet known how long Stevenson will remain in Hawaii for treatment and recovery, but his family was told it could be anywhere from several months to a year, Van de Mosselaer said.

He said life will never be the same for Stevenson nor his wife, who is traumatized.

“Darren’s a guy that puts everyone else ahead of himself,” his friend said. “I’ve never seen a man with so much love for his wife. When he first saw her after the (explosion), his first words to her were, ‘I’m sorry.’”

The Stevensons have a travel insurance policy, but it’s unclear if it will cover all private medical bills or associated costs, including long-term accommodation and expenses for Diane, while she remains by her husband’s side in Hawaii, which is known for its high cost of living.

“They’re going day-to-day right now,” Van de Mosselaer said, who started an online fundraising page to help offset any costs not covered by insurance. “If they’re going to be there long-term, how far does insurance go?”

Legal action is a possibility, he said.

Videos of the explosion were posted online in the aftermath. Footage showed at least three people being blown off their feet in front of the barbecues, while others were seated at tables nearby.

Debris went flying and the common area filled with smoke.

“I came out of the room when there was still debris falling, and it was up easily six floors,” witness Greg Headen told KITV 4 Island News. “A lot of screaming, people on the ground. This thing rocked this part of the island.”

The Stevensons travelled to Maui about a week-and-a-half before the explosion happened. They were scheduled to return to Winnipeg Tuesday.

Van de Mosselaer said he went to the barbecue area twice with Stevenson before he and his wife left Maui.

The couples, who met 35 years ago as Winnipeg Blue Bombers season-ticket holders, went on a trip to Hawaii’s second-largest island together last year, and decided to return this year.

Van de Mosselaer said his wife, Jackie, and Stevenson’s sister flew to Maui over the weekend to be with Diane.

The Whaler, in a statement published by The Associated Press last week, said it was working with Maui’s fire department to determine the cause of the explosion.

“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our owners, guests, and team members,” the statement said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca