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Survivors of The Station nightclub fire struggle with guilt 20 years later


Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. (WJAR){ }
Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. (WJAR)
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Brandon Fravale showed up at The Station nightclub for a concert on Feb. 20, 2003.

"It seems like it was yesterday," said Fravale.

He told NBC 10 he was one of the last people to make it out alive.

"All I remember is being trapped at the front door," he said. "Not knowing whether I was going to make it out or not."

Every year, he comes to The Station Fire Memorial Park to honor the 100 lives lost that night. The park was built in the same spot where the nightclub burned down.

Gina Russo's fiancé Fred Crisostomi died that night. She helped organize the building of the park to honor him and the rest of the victims.

"I've given everything," said Russo. "From the minute this park opened, you could feel the peace. I don't think I've met anyone who has walked through here and hasn't said 'I feel that. I feel the peace.'"

She sells t-shirts to pay for the maintenance on the park.

Russo and Fravale say coming to the park has helped heal some of the survivor's guilt and PTSD from that night.

"Knowing that I was able to get out, I could've helped other people so dealing with survivor's guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder from what I seen and saw," said Fravale. "I deal with every day. I still have nightmares."

Fravale said he meets with a group of survivors every year on February 20. For the 20th year, they all met for dinner and gathered at the park.

He said the group has supported each other daily since the fire and will continue to do so.

"I wish it was more than one time a year that we did this, but I'll take what I can get," he said.

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