College of Arts and Sciences senior Steven Boursiquot, who survived a fire that ripped through his off-campus apartment building early Saturday morning, will undergo surgery early today to treat burn wounds, according to an online post made by family members yesterday afternoon.
Boursiquot, a member of the Boston University track team, survived a three-alarm fire that broke out in his 21 Aberdeen St. apartment after a rear bedroom was ignited by a candle’s flame, according to Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald. Boursiquot, of Dix Hills, N.Y., was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and is listed in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit, according to hospital officials.
School of Management senior Stephen Adelipour, 21, and CAS junior Rhiannon McCuish, 21, were killed in the fire. Adelipour shared the apartment with Boursiquot and SMG senior Rich Park.
Boursiquot is “doing well,” according to a statement posted by family members on a MassGeneral CarePage website. He will need skin grafts on his upper back, left hip and left thigh.
“[Doctors are] running more tests today, and they have lowered the sedation levels to wake him up to more fully assess brain functioning,” the post states. “He’s strong, and he’ll get through this.”
Boursiquot was found wedged between his bed’s box spring and mattress, which is most likely why he survived the fire, CAS senior Becky Briskin said in an email. The flames, which burned through the mattress he was laying face up in, burned mostly his back, she said.
“Everyone is calling him Superman,” Park said last night. Boursiquot’s body “is capable of handling a lot more than anyone else,” he said.
About 10 friends gathered in the apartment the night before the fire, Park said. Boursiquot, who was celebrating his birthday, returned to the apartment with about seven friends after they went to a bar.
Park, who visited Boursiquot in the hospital yesterday, said doctors do not know when he will wake up from the medically induced coma he is currently in. Doctors expect Boursiquot to make a full recovery, Park said.
Park, who left his apartment around 2:30 a.m. the morning of the fire to visit his girlfriend, said he has been roommates with Boursiquot since their freshman year at BU. His hospital visit to see Boursiquot yesterday was the first time he was able to first see his roommate since the fire.
Boursiquot’s friends have compiled posters and a journal for him, which include quotes and some of his memorable online away messages, Park said.
The psychology major is known for his popularity and has a close group of six friends, Park said.
BU is currently housing Park, along with at least three other BU students, at Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square.
“What BU is providing . . . it’s been very helpful,” he said. “They’ve given us a lot of support.”
BU officials provided transportation service to Adelipour’s funeral in Great Neck, N.Y. early Monday morning. Park said Adelipour’s friends appreciated the service.
“We didn’t realize that BU would do this,” he said.
BU will be providing bus transportation service today to Mashpee for McCuish’s wake. The university will also provide transportation to her funeral tomorrow in Mashpee.
Staff reporter Angela Latona contributed reporting for this article.