'He was the most selfless man': Family mourns beloved father after deadly Washington plant explosion

LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON: Gilbert Bernal, a longtime Washington state mill worker, was tragically killed after a chemical tank rupture at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant this week.

Bernal was identified by relatives as the first confirmed victim of catastrophic explosion at the Longview facility. Officials announced that rescue efforts had officially shifted into a recovery operation after the deadly blast tore through the plant.

Another worker has also been confirmed dead, while nine others who remain missing are now presumed dead, officials said. Eight people were injured.

Family mourns Gilbert Bernal after deadly explosion

For Bernal’s family, the devastating news came in fragments and with growing dread. “I was in disbelief,” Gilbert’s youngest brother, Juan Bernal of Federal Way, said after learning of the death through a phone call from their mother. “Tragedy like this shouldn't happen to anybody.”

Gilbert had worked at the Longview plant for years and took enormous pride in showing up every day, according to his brother. “He was a hardworking man. He taught me to want to be a hardworking man, just like him,” Juan Bernal said.

The brothers grew up in Washington’s Yakima area as part of a large family. Gilbert was the second-oldest sibling, while Juan is the youngest.

Gilbert’s son, Eli, recalled the terrifying uncertainty the family faced immediately after the explosion. “My mom got a call from somebody advising her that they had somebody who potentially could be my father,” Eli said.

At the time, the family still didn’t know whether Gilbert had survived.

Eli admitted he couldn’t bring himself to dial his father’s phone. “At that point, we didn’t know anything other than that he was in critical condition,” he said.

The son described his father as the kind of man he hopes to become himself. Eli called his father an “amazing husband” and grandfather, adding that his love was “irreplaceable.”

Gilbert Bernal remembered as hardworking family man

Gilbert Bernal leaves behind his wife, two children, and a grandchild, according to Juan. “[He was] the most unselfish person I've ever met. He thought of everyone else before him,” Juan said. “Everything was for them.”

Gilbert’s daughter, Geovana Bernal, described the enormous void left behind by her father’s death. “There are not enough words to express how devastated we are right now,” she said in a statement.

“My father was the most selfless man I knew. He worked hard to provide for his family, and he loved us so much,” Geovana added. “He was going to celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary with mom in just a couple weeks, and he loved my son, his first grandson, so much.”

She said her father was deeply involved in his church community and regularly volunteered his time helping with repairs or assisting people in need. “He was a great man, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend,” Geovana Bernal said. “We are so heartbroken.”

Although the coroner’s office has not yet publicly released the identities of the confirmed fatalities, Geovana said her brother identified their father after viewing images and speaking with the coroner’s office.

Faith was central to Gilbert Bernal’s life. Juan described his brother as a Christian and “God-fearing man” who attended church every Saturday. Now, the family says they are leaning on that faith and each other to survive the unimaginable grief.

“Now that he's gone, we're just praying for all the other families, too,” Juan said. 

Todd Cornwell, a close friend of Gilbert’s, has since launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family manage expenses in the aftermath of the disaster.

“I pray that he's [Gilbert Bernal] listening to me and knows that I really do love him so much,” Juan said in one final message for his brother.