SANTA CLARA, Utah, April 7, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A little more than two weeks after being caught in a terrorist explosion in the Brussels Airport, Joseph Dresden Empey returned his Southern Utah hometown to a hero’s welcome.
“Dres has been released from the burn unit at the U and will now receive outpatient care through Dixie Regional wound clinic, home health and physical therapy here in St. George,” said a post on parents Amber and Court Empey’s Facebook page.
“He is getting better every day…. He is still having some pain and is quite tired, so I’m not sure how much energy he’ll have for talking or hugs.”
Judging from video posted by the St. George News, most of the Santa Clara’s 6,500 population must have turned out Wednesday to greet the former missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Empey, 20, and his former companion, Mason Wells, 19 and from Sandy, were released from their France-Paris missions after returning to Utah for treatment at the University of Utah Hospital Burn Center.
Also injured in the blast were Elder Richard Norby, 66, a Lehi who remains in a Brussels hospital for treatment, and Elder Fanny Rachel Clain, of France, whom the other three were dropping at the airport for a mission call to Ohio when all were caught in the suicide bombers’ blast on March 22.
Norby’s injuries were the most serious, and the recovery of 20-year-old Clain has been slowed by infections. Wells remains in the U of U Hospital for treatment. Empey will receive ongoing treatment in St. George.
Empey arrived in a black Range Rover, escorted by members of the local police and fire departments, to find his parents Court and Amber Empey’s yard decorated in red, yellow and black balloons, the colors of the Belgium flag.
The only visible bandage on Joe “Dres” Empey was a left hand fully wrapped in medical gauze. Redness from his burn injuries also was visible on his right hand.
