Woman nearly killed while doing what she loves - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

Woman nearly killed while doing what she loves

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By Meaghan Norman - email
Mud Bogg fire that nearly killed Christina Woodcock Mud Bogg fire that nearly killed Christina Woodcock
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -

"It was a life-changing experience that happened within the drop of a dime," said 25-year-old Christina Woodcock, who nearly lost her life seven months ago.

"Your body goes into shock and you wonder, 'Is this really happening to me?'"

On August 18th, Woodcock was a passenger in a truck during a Mid-State Mud Bogging competition. The truck won the race just before bursting into flames.

"My arms and my hands are all third degree," she described. "Both of my legs, my feet. It came out to be 36% of my body in total."

Woodcock was rushed to the Augusta Burn Center where she would spend the next 40 days.

"You never know when it happens to you and you'll find inner strength that you never knew was there," she said.

Rodney Livingston was driving the truck. He suffered second degree burns on 20% of his body. He said there was a mechanical failure no one could have predicted.

"The motor got choked down," said Livingston. "The nitrous and gasoline cylanoid stayed on and it was basically an inferno that came in the cab."

"We got Rodney out and it took us a minute to realize Christina's not getting out," said the co-owner of Mid-State Mud Bogg, Nick Schilling. "So that's when we all went to the other side."

 The mud-bogging community pitched in to help that night. Saturday, they came out again to help raise money for Woodcock's medical expenses.

"Mud bogging community, we're just a close knit family," she said. "When one of us is down we do whatever it takes to get back up."

"She's our family so we'll do whatever it takes," said Schilling.

Woodcock has had 11 surgeries so far. She has one planned every six weeks. Eventually she will need reconstructive surgery.

She still has a long road of recovery ahead but she has a huge support system behind her.

"It hasn't been easy," she said. "But at least I'm alive."

Owners of Mid-State Mud Bogg say new safety rules have been put in place since that accident including a kill switch on the back of trucks, which is now mandatory. And there are no more passenger riders allowed.

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