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"If they don't make it, Lord take me too" said Christian survivor of Missouri boat

by Cara Bentley

The tourist boat capsized during tremendous gails on a lake in Missouri. 

17 people died, including the driver, with it being reported that the 31 passengers were told not to wear life jackets. 

Nine of those 17 were the Coleman family, relatives from Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Church in Indiana who were on holiday and were planning on going for dinner afterwards.

Tia Coleman was on the boat but survived and has spoken in detail about the experience, in which she lost her husband, three children, uncle, sister-in-law, nephew and her husband's parents. 

Speaking about her husband, Coleman said: "He was so loving, and he didn't look like he was but he was!"

She said her oldest son Reece, 9, 'made life worth living', that her 7 year-old son was 'extremely smart' and her youngest daughter Aria, 1, had '1000 personalities' and would 'blow kisses'. 

She described the moment she didn't know where her children were: "It was...it was the worst feeling you could ever feel, and then the one thing I remember saying is 'If they don't make it, Lord take me too, there's really no need for me to be here'. And I just...its very hard to describe, as a mother its very hard to describe."

"I thought I was gonna die anyway so it just felt like the right thing to do at the time"

She said "I've had people that, of course with permission, asked if they could pray for me, pray with me, they've had any kind of resource I need, counselling coming in...it's above and beyond even I could imagine"

When asked what she would say if she could speak to her husband one last time, she said: "'We're in this thing for life, for better or worse' and I would let him know again just how great a father he is".

"God must have something for me cos there's no way I should be here"

Coleman added: "To the survivors of the boat - I continue to keep you in my prayers, I know what you're going through...I pray that they're [their loved ones who died] continuing to live on in their families' hearts."

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