BC man helped others off sinking ship

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - David Teegarden was part of West Island College's Class Afloat program, working on a tall ship off the coast of Brazil -- until it sank.

Dozens of students were on board, and even in a time of panic, the Battle Creek man helped others to safety.

And he told 24 Hour News 8 on Sunday he still plans to pursue life at sea.

The nearly 190-foot tall ship was knocked over by a microburst this month, but all 64 people on board -- most of them teenage students -- survived.

Teegarden suffered a dislocated shoulder, but said that was the worst injury.

"I credit everybody getting off (the ship) safely without injury to the students, because they are the true heroes in all of this," he said.

Teegarden didn't panic, and said as the Concordia's medical officer, his emergency training and instinct to help kicked in immediately.

"You have no choice. You have to do what you have to do to get out of the ship and make sure everyone else gets out safely," he said.

After nearly two days in lifeboats, the group was rescued -- with only the clothes on their backs.

"Everything that was important to me other than myself and my family, I lost on the ship and it sunk," Teegarden said. "And I lost my home because the ship was a home and a community."

But despite the accident, he said nothing can dampen his spirits on sailing and the sea.

"This is a freak accident that happens," Teegarden said. "You have a better chance of winning the lottery than this happening."

His shoulder is yet to be evaluated. Teegarden said he still has some pain and doesn't know if it's seriously damaged.

This is the first time a ship has sunk in the Class Afloat program's 25-year history, he added.