Ssonix explosion: Ryan Konkin’s last words were ‘All I did was open the door’

Ryan Konkin was making his dreams come true.

The 37-year-old St. Catharines man became engaged to his fiancee Natalia Sepulveda-Lastra during the Christmas holidays, and on Wednesday afternoon last week the couple obtained a business licence for the new coffee truck they planned to run together.

That's what he loved the most, cooking and sharing food and drinks with people and spending time with people," said Ryan's sister Nicole Konkin, 39. His ultimate dream was to have that food truck. He finally was able to do that."

Their plans, however, were abruptly shattered.

Ryan arrived at work early Thursday morning, the first to enter Ssonix Products 2010 Inc. at 20 Keefer Rd. in Port Weller.

Out of the two years that he worked there, it was the only day he'd ever shown up to work half an hour early," Nicole said.

Soon after, an explosion large enough to be heard kilometres away tore through the hazardous materials facility at about 6:35 a.m. It was followed by several smaller explosions and a blaze that continued to burn for hours.

Nicole said she initially thought Ryan would be OK.

He was like an ox. Nothing could take him down. He survived so many things. We all just thought, he'll be fine," she said.

But when she learned about the extent of the blast, she started to wonder if he was superhuman."

We don't understand how he walked away from an explosion like that, called for help, made it to the hospital," Nicole said.

He remained conscious and talking throughout most of the ordeal, despite burns covering 99 per cent of his body including some that went deep into his muscles, as well as severe internal injuries.

Nicole said he remained conscious and talking until he had to be intubated, because swelling in his throat was making it difficult for him to breathe.

She said his last words were: All I did was open the door."

He died a day later, after being transferred from St. Catharines to Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto.

The cause of the blast remains under investigation.

Nicole said it's horrible" that tragedy struck at a time when Ryan had so much to look forward to.

She said her brother was also rebuilding his relationship with his 15-year-old son Vincent from a previous relationship, after Vincent, who lives in British Columbia, reached out to his father last spring.

It was something that was really painful for Ryan throughout his life, because he really loves family and kids and it was really hard for him not to have that relationship," Nicole said.

She said her brother was ecstatic when he finally heard from Vincent.

He couldn't believe it. It was like he'd won the lottery. He was so happy and grateful," she said. It always seemed like he could never catch a break, but he never let that change his outlook on life and he was always so good to people and kind."

Nicole, who lives in Edmonton, said she booked a flight as soon as she learned about her brother's injuries, and arrived in time to be with her brother before he died.

I was able to get on a flight almost immediately so I was there that evening and could spend the night with him," she said.

The doctors only gave him three hours on life-support, but he survived for 27."

Nicole said it was also an opportunity to spend time with Sepulveda-Lastra and her family.

I don't think I really understood unconditional love until I met Natalia and saw their relationship. She loved him for exactly who he was," she said. She was so good to him and her family. We're so grateful that he found her. He spent the last couple years of his life with the best people he could have possibly been with."

In the days following the tragedy, Nicole's thoughts have been with Ryan's fiancee and the goals the couple had been working towards achieving together.

She wants to help Sepulveda-Lastra continue to make Ryan's dreams a reality, without him.

We don't want to see it end," Nicole said. We want to see her able to live that out and go and share the joy of what Ryan really loved with people."

She said the food truck - it was renamed Ryan's Lounge in his memory - is a way for Sepulveda-Lastra to spend time with Ryan for the rest of ever," and she's really excited to do it even though he is there just in spirit.

It inspired Nicole to launch a GoFundMe campaign to help his fiancee, called Keeping Ryan's Spirit Vibrant.

Ryan could most often be found fishing, gardening, shovelling someone's driveway, picking up trash in the parks, playing with random animals, making kids smile and sharing his favourite dishes with anyone who was available," Nicole wrote in the fundraiser description.

Ryan was always the man who tended to have the least but give the most and show up for anyone who needed a hand, whether he knew them or not. He could make friends with complete strangers at a fishing hole, an upscale event or with a homeless person on the street. To Ryan, all people were equal and deserved his time of day."

By Thursday morning, the online campaign had exceeded its $10,000 goal.

Nicole said the tragedy could have been far worse, if the explosion had occurred when more people than just her brother were in the facility at the time.

She said a small gathering of about 60 people, including friends, family and some of Ryan's colleagues was held Saturday to celebrate Ryan's memory.

So many of his co-workers came, and it was very strange to stand there and talk to them. I wondered if they realize that this could be for them right now?"

Nicole said the family is planning a second memorial for Ryan, in Kamsack, Sask. - near their hometown of Yorkton.

We're going to do a barbecue and fishing social, May long weekend," she said.

That's what he loved the most. I think that will be really healing for everyone to spend time doing that."

Allan Benner is a St. Catharines-based reporter with the Standard. Reach him via email: allan.benner@niagaradailies.com