Niall Murray, one of seven Irish students injured in the balcony collapse in Berkeley in June, spoke publicly for the first time on Friday about his survival and struggles.
"I feel fortunate," he told the media with his doctor by his side. "I also feel guilty.
Six other students died in the June 16 tragedy at the Library Gardens complex at 2020 Kittredge St. as a group of mostly Irish exchange students were celebrating a friend's 21st birthday party.
Murray said he doesn’t remember much about the party, except that after a group went out to the balcony, and “a few minutes later, we heard a rumble.”
Murray has been a patient at the Rehabilitation Center at Santa Valley Medical Center, most recently undergoing intensive rehabilitation and therapy treatments.
The medical center treated four of the students injured in the balcony collapse.
Murray said he’s grateful for the medical help he’s received and says he plans to head home within a week. The first thing he said he’ll do: visit the families of those whose children died.
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"To our friends, we will miss you, we will always miss you, and we'll never forget you,” Murrsay said. ”Someday I look forward to seeing you all again."
In late June, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said she was opening a criminal investigation into Segue, which built the balconies that city inspectors said had been badly rotted by water damage.
A Segue spokesman said he would comply with the investigation.
O'Malley has not announced any updates into her investigation.
