St. Helena man still hospitalized with burns
ileslie@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5527
A St. Helena Island man who received severe burns in a Tuesday morning fire has been upgraded to fair condition, according to officials at a Georgia burn unit.
Terry Ray Golden Sr., of 1 Boggy Lane, which is in the Eddings Point Road area of St. Helena, received second- and third-degree burns to his hands and back during the fire at his home, according to authorities and family.
Authorities believe the fire, which destroyed the home, was started by an electric space heater. Golden told firefighters he ran back into the fire to make sure his family had safely made it out of the house. Golden's daughter said her father went back in to get his son out, not knowing that Terry Golden Jr. already had gotten out of the home.
Golden was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital by Beaufort County EMS and then transferred to Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., where he originally was listed in serious condition Tuesday.
With most of Golden's family in Augusta, the St. Helena community is offering its support. The Red Cross' Palmetto Chapter is working with its Augusta chapter to support the family while it's in Georgia.
"What we've done is we have an arrangement to work with other chapters," said Ray Enstine, a local Red Cross caseworker. "I contacted the chapter up there, and they're kinda helping them out and putting their arms around them a little bit."
Enstine said the Red Cross helped the family find lodging and is assisting with items such as clothes and food.
Richard Peraman, pastor at St. Helena Baptist Church, said his congregation will take up an offering of food, clothes and other items at services this Sunday.
The congregation meets at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday at 1608 Sea Island Parkway.