Lubbock Firefighter Stranded on Cruise Ship Tells His Love Story Gone Wrong
By: Meredith Hillgartner
Updated: February 18, 2013
It was 5:00 or 5:30 in the morning," Clark said. "They came across the loud speaker with a code "alpha team, alpha team, alpha team," and that kind of got everyone's attention."
For Lubbock firefighter Kade Boman this week has been one of the best and worst of his life.
"II actually went on the cruise to propose to my girlfriend," Boman said.
Boman took his girlfriend Darcie on a cruise to Cozumel aboard the Carnival Triumph.
Boman proposed and Darcie said yes, but that is when the good news ended.
"You automatically could smell it," Clark said. "Then you could definitely see smoke coming from the big tail fin."
A fire broke out in the ships engine room-cutting off all the power on board.
"They had a little bit of electricity in different parts of the ship," Boman said. "But for the most part everything was out."
Boman and Darcie's room flooded with sewer water.
Luckily they did not have to stay on the top deck, like some others.
"We did meet some friends on the first day who were actually there with their parents and they allowed us to stay in their rooms," Boman said.
Food was scarce-even after deliveries were made by helicopter and other ships.
"There were some greedy people out there kind of hoarding some food," Boman said.
But Boman said the worst part was the smell.
"It was pretty rancid," Boman said. "Kind of like a port-o-potty, sewer gas everywhere.
"They had us using the bathroom in the shower and then also in red biohazard bags."
As a firefighter Boman had some natural instincts to help out.
"I did my best to help with whatever I saw," Boman said. "Anything medical that I saw I tried to jump in and help the best I could."
Boman said everyone was revealed to get back Thursday night.
"We feel real blessed to have got off and not be sick just real lucky," Boman said.
