Family of man who died in St. Catharines explosion speaks to CHCH News

CHCH News is learning more about the deadly explosion at a chemical disposal business that killed a St. Catharines man last week.

READ MORE: Man dies after explosion, fire at St. Catharines waste facility: police

The man’s family says it’s lucky more people weren’t killed. The man killed was 37-year-old Ryan Konkin.

CHCH News spoke with his sister today who said Ryan was early for work that day and as soon as he opened the door, the building exploded.

Ryan’s sister, Nicole Konkin says, “my first thought was that he was going to be okay, then I googled St. Catharines explosion and it didn’t look that way.”

Nicole was right, her younger brother Ryan suffered burns to 99 per cent of his body on Thursday morning. He was put on life support but passed away the next morning.

Before Ryan died, he told a nurse that all he did was open the door to the Ssonix products plant he worked at in St. Catharines.

That morning he was dropped off at work by his fiancé Natalia, who he proposed to over Christmas.

“Had he gotten to work on time, like when he was supposed to there, when everyone else was there. There would have been so many other people dead,” Nicole said.

His sister has started a GoFundMe page called Keeping Ryan’s Spirit Vibrant to help his fiancé continue with his dream of running a food truck.

The GoFundMe page has already raised close to $7,000 but the family’s goal is to raise up to $10,000.

Police and fire officials continue to ask anyone with video to come forward.

READ MORE: Investigators ask public for video of fatal St. Catharines explosion, fire