The teen and mother who were hit by a crash-landing US Navy parachutist at San Francisco Fleet Week broke their silence about their injuries.
Millicent Mia DeGuzman, 17, and her family attended the air show on October 13 and were seated on the Marina Green when the horrific accident took place.
This was my first airshow and I had no idea I was in danger, Mia said in a statement. Now I cant move without their help and doctors say I may never be able to do the things I once could.
Multiple videos, including one from Mia, captured one parachutist missing the landing zone and veering toward the crowd. Incredibly, Mia kept recording, only turning away when the man collided with her and her mother, Jhoanna.
Mia sustained two fractures on her pelvis, while her mother was diagnosed with a concussion and bruising on her upper arm, according to the personal injury law firm the family retained.
Millicent Mia DeGuzman, center, snaps a selfie with her family
Pictured: The giant screws that had to be surgically implanted into Mias pelvis to hold it together
After the incident, doctors operated on Mia, surgically inserting large screws into her body to keep her pelvis together.
Mia also revealed she and her family had just immigrated to the United States two days before the show.
Beyond the physical pain, the emotional trauma is overwhelming - what was supposed to be a joyful start to a new life here has turned into a nightmare I relive every day, she said.
Tanya Gomerman, the teens attorney, said her family is facing a mountain of medical bills.
There is no doubt that this is not what this parachutist or the Navy wanted to happen, but regrettably a young woman was injured, Gomerman said.
She continued: She faces a long, difficult recovery and is unable to handle even the most basic tasks without support from her family. It’s a tragic incident that raises questions about safety protocols and accountability at events involving such high-risk displays.
Its not clear whether the family intends to file a lawsuit.
A snippet from Mias video of the incident captures the off-target parachutist veering toward disaster. A father appears to be running out of the way while carrying his child
This is roughly three seconds before Mia and her mother were hit by the parachutist
Another vantage point shows the parachutist about to land in the crowd
During the event, the first person from the Navys Leap Frogs parachute team made a graceful landing on the grass, with crowds on either side of the landing zone.
People could be heard shouting ohhhh and oh no as the second parachutist floated down before making the accidental landing.
The parachute blunder came around 12.35pm Sunday at the Armed Forces event.
Our thoughts are with the individual and their family, the Navy said in a statement about the incident.
Safety is our number one priority. We cannot immediately assess what happened; however, we will review this incident to determine the cause.
The parachutist did not suffer any injuries, according to the US Navy.
San Francisco Fleet Week is an annual celebration of the nations Armed Forces.
Members put on air shows, flight demonstrations and ship tours among other attractions for locals and tourists to enjoy.
Fleet Week is the grand finale of the summer event, which concluded October 14 this year.