WILKES COUNTY, N.C. – Countryside Golf Course in Elkin closed on Thursday after a worker was killed in a fiery explosion in the golf cart storage shed.
Fire investigators said Gary Jordan, 64, was fueling the golf carts in the storage room when a fire broke out.
Jordan's friend and co-worker, Wayne Tuttle, is still trying to process what happened.
"It's just hard to believe. I just don't know. Words can't say it," said Tuttle. "I don't have any feelings. I don't know what to feel."
Wayne Tuttle also works at the golf course. He says he's devastated about losing his friend and coworker fire. @WFMY pic.twitter.com/27Z1vWlJEE
— Ben Powell (@benpowelltv) May 11, 2017
Firefighters don't know what caused the initial fire but they think the fuel from the golf carts sparked the explosion.
Tuttle says this tragedy couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
"He would help you out and do anything for you and never asked for nothing much in return," said Tuttle. "He was a standup guy. He helped me out a whole lot out here working when I needed help. He's just a good friend."
Tuttle says he wishes he could have been there to save his friend, but he was late to work.
"I don't know if I could've helped him if I would've been here. But then if I could've been here, I might've been there with him," said Tuttle.
The fire from the explosion also destroyed more than 20 golf carts inside the building on the golf course located on Spicer Road in Elkin in Wilkes County.
The owner of the golf course says they'll be closed for several weeks until the damaged is repaired and the golf carts are replaced.
The fire is still under investigation but firefighters believe it was accidental.