INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) —Tour boat tragedy Survivor Tia Coleman continues to be surrounded by family after burying nine loved ones over the weekend. Her nephew insists the public's thoughts, prayers and concern are helping his aunt and their extended family.
Tyler Hutchinson talked exclusively with Eyewitness News just moments before attending the funeral of his relatives killed in Branson, Missouri while on vacation.
"Honestly, it's indescribable," said Hutchinson.
Hutchinson could not find the words to describe the impact from the tour boat tragedy, even after seeing his aunt Tia Coleman shared her story of survival.
During a news conference in Branson, Missouri, Tia Coleman said, "Every time I got my head above water I screamed 'help, help,' and finally I came up to the surface."
She lost five of her in-laws, her husband Glenn and their children, 1-year-old Arya, 7-year-old Evan and 9-year-old Reece.
Hutchinson traveled back home from out of the country upon learning what happened.
"Reece had autism," said Hutchinson. "He would chew on straws because it just comforted him...I can't tell you how many straws we've gone through...I went into Reece's room and I stepped on one of his straws. How do you get over that, right?"
The Colemans had two funerals in one weekend celebrating the lives of nine people. Family, Friends, coworkers, the church community and even strangers packed both churches for the services to support the Colemans and the extended family members.
The Coleman tragedy touched the hearts of people across the country and around the world. Now Tia Coleman is starting over, knowing home is forever changed. That includes changes for her nephew Donovan, who also survived the tour boat tragedy.
"Going home, I don't know how I am going to do it. Since I have had a home, it's always been filled," Coleman said.
"We are going to help her start over and keep the memories," Hutchinson said. "You can't go back to a house with all those memories. It's a huge house."
Now after witnessing the pain his aunt is going through, Hutchinson hopes others can see better days out of their own situations.
"Whatever you are going through it's not that deep. It's just not that deep.", said Hutchinson, "especially since now all that is left is for God to get the Glory out of all of this."