Green Country Couple Recovering After Propane Tank Explosion

Christine Riley said her friends, Darren Duvall and Jo Lea Ford, have a long road to recovery ahead of them following a propane tank explosion, but she's thankful they are alive.

Duvall and Ford were starting to make dinner in their travel trailer near Eufaula last Monday when firefighters said the propane tank exploded.

"The travel trailer has a slide, and it blew him out with the slide and she happened to be right there by the door, and she blew out the door," Christine Riley said.

Both Duvall and Ford were taken to the burn center at Hillcrest Medical Center.

Duvall has burns on his hands, arms and face. Ford’s worst burns are on her feet and calves.

"It's tough, they are still in shell shock, really and truly, I think, with just the whole thing and then going through everything you go through in a burn center," Riley said.

Riley said Ford is still in the hospital but getting stronger every day.

Duvall has been released from the hospital, but Riley said he has a long a lot of rehab and physical therapy ahead.

Riley has known known Duvall for nine years. It’s been hard knowing that her friend is in excruciating pain.

"I was just heartbroken,” Riley said. “I cried and cried, just thinking when I saw the pictures of his hands and realizing how long of a recovery he's going to have.”

Riley said it has been overwhelming to see the emotional and financial support the two have received during their time of need.

"I mean, that is wonderful,” Riley said. “People are really just giving all they have, and that's heartwarming.”

If you’d like to help out Duvall, a link to the GoFundMe can be found here.

If you’d like to help out Ford, a link to the GoFundMe can be found here.