Devastated family members of US students killed in South Korea speak out

The ultimate photograph of two US trade pupils tragically killed in the South Korea Halloween stampede has emerged as the father of a person victim unveiled he textual content his son considerably less than an hour before urging him to ‘be safe’.

Anne Gieske, 20, posted a smiling selfie with Steven Blesi, also 20, for the duration of a hike at Hallasan volcano just several hours in advance of they were being killed in the crush on Oct 29.

Gieske, who celebrated her birthday on Friday, was a junior who attended the College of Kentucky’s nursing system. 

Hours after her tragic passing was documented, the household of Blesi claimed that they had been notified that he was also among the 156 who perished. He was a junior at Kennesaw State College in Ga. 

Blesi’s father claimed he text his son just half an hour before the stampede and advised him: ‘I know you happen to be out and about. Be safe and sound.’

Tragically, he hardly ever obtained a reply from his son.

Anne Gieske posted the smiling selfie with Steven Blesi just hrs just before the horrific crush that claimed the two of their lives

The pair of US exchange students had been section of a group who liked a seven-hour hike at the Hallasan volcano in South Korea

Anne Gieske, a junior at the University of Kentucky, was killed in the stampede Saturday evening in South Korea

 Both Gieske and Blesi were using element in analyze overseas courses at their respective educational facilities.  

The incident happened as the group at the Halloween occasion on Saturday night grew to become unruly and surged, which brought on a deadly stampede. 

Around 100,000 folks were current for the South Korean event.  

Representatives from the University of Kentucky explained two other pupils were also studying overseas in South Korea. Each other college students have been accounted for. 

The University’s President, Eli Capilouto, verified that the two others are safe and sound at this time. 

‘We have been in get in touch with with Anne’s family members and will offer what ever support we can now and in the times in advance as they cope with this indescribable decline,’ explained Capilouto.

‘We will be there for individuals in our neighborhood who understood and beloved Anne. We also have practically 80 college students from South Korea at British isles, members of our community, who will require our support,’ the University’s president ongoing. 

In August, Gieske set up an Instagram account devoted to detailing her adventures in South Korea.  

Gieske, who was from Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, graduated from Beechwood Superior School in 2020, she was a member of Beechwood’s marching band from 2015 to 2020.

Her mothers and fathers, Dan and Madonna, explained in a brief statement that their daughter was a devout Catholic. The family members extra: ‘We are entirely devastated and heartbroken over the decline of Anne Marie. She was a bright light-weight beloved by all.’ 

Steve Blesi’s father posted this photograph of his son on Twitter as their family members frantically sought information about his whereabouts as information of the stampede emerged

Blesi’s father, Steven Blesi, 62, of Marietta, Ga, told the New York Times that their family was contacted on Saturday evening by the United States Embassy in Seoul and explained to the tragic information. 

Before, Steven Blesi had sent out a tweet that showcased a picture of his son as the relatives pleaded for information. Following the confirmation, he tweeted: ‘Thank you for the outpouring of enjoy. We will need time to grieve.’ 

In his interview with the Moments, Steven Blesi described the pain of his son’s demise. He reported: ‘It was like it stabbed like a hundred million periods at the same time. It was like your globe just collapsing. It was numb and devastating all at the very same time.’ 

He stated that his son was finding out at Hanyang College at the time of his death. Steven Blesi added that his son preferred to go after business in jap Asia just after graduation. 

He joked in his interview with the Times: ‘My spouse is Latin, but he did not want to go to Latin The usa. He was essentially discovering Korean in addition to Spanish. He desired to communicate far more languages than my wife.’

In addition to his father, Steve Blesi is survived by his mom, Maria, and his brother, Joey. Heartbreakingly, his father informed the Situations: ‘I texted him it’s possible a fifty percent-hour just before all this transpired, and I claimed, “I know you’re out and about. Be protected.” I under no circumstances received a reply to that.’ 

Kennesaw Point out University said in a assertion: ‘Kennesaw State University officers were being deeply saddened to learn that KSU scholar Steven Blesi was among the the additional than 150 men and women tragically killed in this weekend’s Halloween incident in Seoul, South Korea.’

The faculty included that a full of 11 students from Kennesaw Point out University at at present studying in Seoul. The statement explained that all of the other learners are safe and sound and have been accounted for.

The school’s president Kathy Schwaig explained: ‘On behalf of the whole Kennesaw Condition community, our thoughts and prayers go out to Steven’s household and close friends as they mourn this incomprehensible reduction. We have been in make contact with with Steven’s household and have offered all accessible sources of the College to them.’

Gieske was one particular of a few students from the College of Kentucky who were being finding out abroad in Seoul, South Korea, in accordance to reps from the university

Some reports point out that the vast majority of the victims from the incident were being teenagers and persons in their twenties. 

The social gathering took place in central Seoul and arrived to a head when the enormous crowd attempted to rush by way of narrow corridors, trampling around other people. 

Horrifying video from soon after the incident demonstrates a fireman in South Korea trembling as he offers a push briefing about the Halloween stampede that killed in excess of 150 men and women.

An supplemental 82 have been wounded in the course of the stampede, the group declared Sunday. 

South Korea’s Chief of Yongsan Fire Section Choi Seong-beom appeared to shake as he gave the media a briefing on the stampede that killed at the very least 153 in Seoul

Onlookers, police and paramedics collected in which dozens of individuals experienced cardiac arrest in the well known nightlife district of Itaewon

The ‘heartbreaking’ video, which was taken a number of hours after the deadly incident happened, shows the fatigued crisis worker a little shaking as he retains the microphone.

On the net, people today responded to the online video to share their sympathies with Choi Seong-beom and other emergency workers who attended the traumatic incident.

More than 1,700 crisis personnel were deployed from throughout South Korea to reply to one of the deadliest group crushes in current historical past – which include about 520 firefighters, 1,100 police officers and 70 federal government workers.

Far more footage overlooking the road confirmed dozens of emergency responders operating desperately to administer CPR to victims lying on the street.  

Still left: The alleyway is noticed early on Sunday morning. It remained cordoned off as police ongoing their investigations into the tragedy. Appropriate: The exact same alleyway is observed shortly right before the crush. Hundreds of men and women are shown packed in

Dozens of people who ended up hurt or killed reportedly endured cardiac arrests.  

At least 19 of people are overseas nationals. 

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a week of countrywide mourning and soon after going to the web site earlier today claimed that the fatal stampede ‘should not have happened’.

‘In the middle of Seoul, a tragedy and catastrophe transpired that should really not have occurred,’ Yoon claimed in a national handle, vowing to ‘thoroughly investigate’ the incident and be certain it could never come about again.

Stories from final night also element how some revelers continued to celebration in the neighborhood right after the crush – despite desperate pleas from the law enforcement to go household.