”That Day I Could Have Died”: Napa Teen on Fireplace Crushing Him During Earthquake
"For the first 30 seconds, I thought I was paralyzed," Nicholas Dillon
By Lisa Fernandez and Jodi Hernandez ••
A teen seriously injured by a falling fireplace in the South Napa earthquake is recovering from a broken pelvis as his family counts their blessings that it wasn’t worse. Ian Cull reports.
Nicholas Dillon has a broken pelvis and won’t play soccer again for months.
Jodi Hernandez
This image captured Monday, Aug. 24, 2014, shows the Dillon family's living room the day after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake caused their fireplace to collapse on top of 13-year-old Nicholas Dillon.
But the bed-ridden 13-year-old Napa boy still counts himself lucky. He was one of the most seriously injured among the 208 people hospitalized after Sunday’s 6.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the Bay Area.
"That day I could have died” he said.
A fireplace fell on top of Dillon's lower body when the quake hit at 3:20 a.m. He believes if he hadn't moved, he could have been crushed to death by the bricks.
Instead, the freckle-faced teen was giving interviews from his hospital bed at the University of California at Davis Children's Hospital in Sacramento Tuesday night, retelling the harrowing story of what happened when he first felt the earth move and the house shake.
"I started crawling trying to get to the door," he said, "and just as I was about to put my knee on the floor the chimney collapsed on my lower back."
Nicholas and his friend, Imanol Villanueva, were sleeping in the living room after a friend's birthday party Saturday night. Nicholas was sleeping on a mattress on the floor, directly under the brick fireplace. He had given Imanol the couch.
"He started yelling my name," Imanol said, still teary remembering what happened when the earth shook. "And then I yelled his and then I saw the bricks coming down on him."
NBC Bay Area
"I started crawling trying to get to the door," he said, "and just as I was about to put my knee on the floor the chimney collapsed on my lower back."
NBC Bay Area
Doctors say it will be at least four or five months before he can put pressure on his legs. As a soccer player, that news is especially disappointing for the 9th grader at New Technology High.
NBC Bay Area
A fireplace fell on top of Dillon's lower body when the quake hit at 3:20 a.m.
NBC Bay Area
Nicholas believes if he hadn't moved, he could have been crushed to death by the bricks.
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
Nicholas Dillon
AP
Nicholas Dillon
The bricks ended up crushing Dillon's pelvis, but thankfully, his family says, not his spine.
"I didn't know what to think," Nicholas said. "For the first 30 seconds, I thought I was paralyzed. I didn't think I was going to be able to walk anymore. I was scared."
His mother called 911, but couldn't get an answer. His grandfather drove him to the nearest fire station, where he was taken to the hospital. He was airlifted to UC Davis, where he underwent a 10-hour surgery, his family said. Of the 208 patients first admitted to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, he was one of two critical cases.
AP
Cellar worker Daniel Nelson looks over toppled barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon following an earthquake at the B.R. Cohn Winery barrel storage facility Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif.
AFP/Getty Images
Nicholas George looks under a buckled highway just outside of Napa, California after earthquake struck the area in the early hours of August 24, 2014.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Damaged bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar sit on the floor of Lucero Olive Oil Co. in Napa, California, U.S., on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014.
Getty Images
Workers clean up piles of bottles that were thrown from the shelves at Van's Liquors following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California.
Getty Images
A mannequin lays in broken glass in front of a damaged buillding following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California.
AFP/Getty Images
Karl Luchsinger attempts to disentangle his daughter's car after the car port it was parked in collapsed on top of it as a result in downtown Napa, California, after an earthquake struck the area.
AP
Bricks and rubble cover the sidewalk in front of a heavily damaged building following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif.
AP
Ester Acupan sweeps up at the 3J's Oreintal Market after an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in American Canyon, Calif.
NBC Bay Area / Jeff Ranieri
Road damage in Napa.
NBC Bay Area / Cheryl Hurd
Facade of a building crumbles down on top of a vehicle in downtown Napa.
NBC Bay Area / Terry McSweeney
Damaged roads at Hwy 121/12
NBC Bay Area / Jeff Ranieri
Road damage in Napa.
AP
Nina Quidit cleans up the Dollar Plus and Party Supplies Store in American Canyon Calif., after an earthquake on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. Quidit and her husband were woken up in the early morning hours by the store's alarm company and immediately drove in to begin cleaning up.
AP
Napa Fire Captain Steve Becker inspects mobile homes which were destroyed Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at the Napa Valley Mobile Home Park, in Napa, Calif. A gas fire at the park is being blamed as the result of a 6.0-magnitude earthquake which struck California's northern San Francisco Bay area this morning.
AP
A youngster rides his scooter over a sidewalk buckled by an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. A large earthquake caused significant damage and left at least three critically injured in California's northern Bay Area early Sunday, igniting fires, sending at least 87 people to a hospital, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness.
NBC Bay Area Viewer Karen Schuppert submitted this photo from Cuvaison Estate Wines in Napa via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com).
AP
Steve Brody inspects damage to the interior of his mobile home after an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at the Napa Valley Mobile Home Park, in Napa, Calif.
AP
Bricks and rubble cover the sidewalk in front of a heavily damaged building following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif.
AP
A man photographs damage to a post office in Napa, Calif., following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014.
NBC Bay Area Viewer Karen Schuppert submitted this photo from Cuvaison Estate Wines in Napa via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com).
AP
Nina Quidit cleans up the Dollar Plus and Party Supplies Store in American Canyon Calif. after an earthquake on Sunday Aug. 24, 2014. Quidit and her husband were woken up in the early morning hours by the store's alarm company and immediately drove in to begin clean up. The 6.0-magnitude quake caused six significant fires, including at four mobile homes, Napa Division Fire Chief Darren Drake said.
AP
Police cars block the street outside a heavily damaged building following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. A large earthquake caused significant damage in California's northern Bay Area early Sunday, sending at least 70 people to a hospital, igniting fires, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness.
AP
Jorge Sanchez looks over damage to the main post office following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. A large earthquake caused significant damage in California's northern Bay Area early Sunday.
NBC Bay Area Viewer Karen Schuppert submitted this photo from Cuvaison Estate Wines in Napa via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com).
AP
Police tape blocks the entrance to the damaged main post office following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. A large earthquake caused significant damage in California's northern Bay Area early Sunday.
AP
Products litter the floor of the Dollar Plus and Party Supplies Store in American Canyon, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014. Owners Nina and Marc Quidit were woken up in the early morning hours by the store's alarm company and immediately drove in to begin cleaning up.
AP
Louis Secreto works at cleaning the storefront window of the Napa Running Company following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. A large earthquake rolled through California's northern Bay Area early Sunday, damaging some buildings, igniting fires, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness.
AP
Jean Meehan looks over the damage to her JHM Stamp and Collectibles store following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif.
AP
Jorge Sanchez, left, and Rob Doughty, right, look over damage to the main post office following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif. A large earthquake caused significant damage in California's northern Bay Area early Sunday, sending at least 70 people to a hospital, igniting fires, knocking out power to tens of thousands and sending residents running out of their homes in the darkness.
AP
Louis Secreto works at cleaning the storefront window of the Napa Running Company following an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in Napa, Calif.
AP
Gurbir Bhandahl, an employee at a 7-Eleven store, cleans up after an earthquake Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, in American Canyon, Calif.
Nelissa Solomon
Parts of the ceiling fell off in this garage and almost hit the car.
David Duncan/Silver Oak
Silver Oak President and CEO David Duncan said he went to the winery at 4:30 am. to find hundreds of shattered bottles. “We were picking them up with shovels and brooms and it was a mess," he said.
David Duncan/Silver Oak
David Duncan, CEO of Silver Oak winery in Napa, shared photos of the destruction from the 6.0 earthquake.
David Duncan/Silver Oak
David Duncan, CEO of Silver Oak winery in Napa, shared photos of the destruction from the 6.0 earthquake.
David Duncan, CEO of Silver Oak winery in Napa, shared photos of the destruction from the 6.0 earthquake.
David Duncan/Silver Oak
A photo of what Silver Oak winery was able to save from the earthquake.
Alvaro Garcia
Safeway in American Canyon.
Jodi Hernandez
Photo taken from Green Valley.
Jodi Hernandez
The earthquake knocked some bottles to the ground.
Jodi Hernandez
Toiletries flew off the shelves after the quake.
Jodi Hernandez
The earthquake knocked over this TV.
Partial collapse of the outer walls of a Vallejo Church.
Getty Images
Glass from a business litters the ground following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3am on Sunday morning.
Getty Images
People wearing bathrobes walk down a street following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3 am on Sunday morning.
Getty Images
A journalist documents a destroyed building following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3 am on Sunday morning.
Getty Images
A building is seen destroyed following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3 am on Sunday morning.
Getty Images
A man takes a picture of a destroyed building following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3am on Sunday morning.
NBC Bay Area Viewer "Karen"
NBC Bay Area Viewer Karen Schuppert submitted this photo from Cuvaison Estate Wines in Napa via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com).
NBC Bay Area / Viewer photo
This photo was submitted by an NBC Bay Area Viewer via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com)
NBC Bay Area / Viewer photo
This photo was submitted by an NBC Bay Area Viewer via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com)
NBC Bay Area / Viewer photo
This photo was submitted by an NBC Bay Area Viewer via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com)
NBC Bay Area / Viewer photo
This photo was submitted by an NBC Bay Area Viewer via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com)
NBC Bay Area / Viewer photo
This photo was submitted by an NBC Bay Area Viewer via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com)
NBC Bay Area / Viewer photo
This photo was submitted by an NBC Bay Area Viewer via email (isee@nbcbayarea.com)
Sarah Lippmann
NBC Bay Area viewer Sarah Lippmann submitted this photo from Napa via email. Share your pics by sending them to isee@nbcbayarea.com
Sarah Lippmann
Broken glass.
Gillian
Products knocked over at Browns Valley Market.
slewis@vwinecellar.com
Bottles fall to the floor in this wine cellar in Yountville.
Sarah Lippmann
A broken fountain resulting from the South Napa Earthquake.
Sarah Lippmann
China knocked down in this kitchen.
slewis@vwinecellar.com
More bottles knocked over in this Yountville wine cellar.
Matthew Keys
Olive oil and vinegar bottles knocked over as a result of the South Napa earthquake.
Sarah Lippmann
Damage inside a room as a result of the South Napa earthquake.
slewis@vwinecellar.com
Bottles fell to the floor in this Yountville wine cellar.
slewis@vwinecellar.com
Wine spilled onto the floor in this Yountville wine cellar.
Matthew Keys
Windows shattered at this post office.
slewis@vwinecellar.com
A partial collapse of this building in Yountville.
Gillian
Items flying off the shelves at Browns Valley Market as a result of the earthquake.
haleybug02@comcast.net
Earthquake damage in this viewer's outside room.
Matthew Keys
Part of this building crumbles off.
mswatsonriverschool@yahoo.com
Office supplies inside a school get scattered around due to the South Napa Earthquake.
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
Bob Redell
Earthquake damage in downtown Napa, August 25, 2014.
Bob Redell
Earthquake damage in downtown Napa, August 25, 2014.
Bob Redell
Earthquake damage in downtown Napa, August 25, 2014.
Bob Redell
Earthquake damage in downtown Napa, August 25, 2014.
NBC Bay Area
Aerial image over downtown Napa, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014.
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: Napa County firefighters spray foam on hot spots from a fire at a mobile home park following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: A car is seen covered in bricks following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: A passerby stops to take a picture of damage to the Napa post office following a reported 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: Cars are crushed under a collapsed carport following a 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: People take pictures of cars crushed under a collapsed carport following a 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: A passerby stops to look at a collapsed carport following a 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: Dan Kavarian, chief building official with the City of Napa, surveys a building that was damaged by a 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 24: Members of the media set up outside of a building that was damaged by a 6.0 earthquake on August 24, 2014 in Napa, California. A 6.0 earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay Area shortly after 3:00 am on Sunday morning causing damage to buildings and sending at least 70 people to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 25: Red wine leaks from a broken wine barrel after dozens of wine barrels collapsed in a storage room at Kieu Hoang Winery on August 25, 2014 in Napa, California. A day after a 6.0 earthquake rocked the Napa Valley, residents and wineries are continuing clean up operations. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NAPA, CA - AUGUST 25: Broken wine barrels sit in a parking lot after a massive collapse at a wine barrel storage facility on August 25, 2014 in Napa, California. A day after a 6.0 earthquake rocked the Napa Valley, residents and wineries are continuing clean up operations. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Regina Muth
Craigie Court buckles in front of Gina Muth's Napa home following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 24, 2014.
Doctors say it will be at least four or five months before he can put pressure on his legs.
As a soccer player, that news is especially disappointing for the 9th grader at New Technology High.
"I'm hanging in there for the most part," he said.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED:
Nicholas Dillon's family set up an account to help with medical costs. To help, contact Bank of America and reference an account in the name of Nicholas M. Dillon, No. 1641-0344-2511.
NBC News and NBC Bay Area's Ian Cull contributed to this report.
![[NATL-BAY] 13-Year-Old Napa Boy Suffers Pelvic Fractures in Quake, No Broken Spine: Aunt](https://ots.nbcwpshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/7283555_N7PPKGTERRORTHREAT_1_722x406_2123869518.jpg?fit=722%2C406){kind=link}