50949_WKBW_7_Problem_Solvers_658x90.png

Actions

Mother of duck boat survivor: 'My daughter faced death'

Posted at 4:18 PM, Jul 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-20 17:00:48-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mandi Keller's daughter was in Branson on a family vacation. But the fun of the vacation quickly turned to a fight for her life.

Her daughter, 15-year-old daughter Gillian, was in the Branson area with her father.

Both were on the duck boat that capsized and sank on Thursday night at Table Rock Lake. They are two of the survivors.

My daughter "is a terrible wreck," Keller said from her home state of Texas. "She is horrified about everything."

17 people died in the Tragedy at Table Rock. Keller said she is lucky her daughter and ex-husband are not in a body bag.

"My daughter faced death. She was in a fight for her life," Keller said. "But God spared her. I am grateful to God that he spared her."

According to her mother, Gillian is not in the hospital. "She's doing ok. She's sad, emotional and feels bad. She said it's surreal," Keller said.

Video obtained by Scripps affiliate KSHB in Kansas City shows the conditions the duck boat experienced during a storm early Thursday evening. The video shows waves rocking two duck boats. One made it back to shore. The other sank.

"My ex-husband said it was like being in the ocean," Keller said. "They witnessed a horrific scene."