Four adults and two children were suffered serious burns after their boat exploded in Huntington Harbour on the afternoon of Sunday, November 1.
A boater touted by authorities as a good Samaritan helped the six people to safety after their boat experienced an explosion and caught on fire.
According to police, all six people aboard — including two children, ages 7 and 3 — were pulled from the water near Peter’s Landing.
“They were just on their voyage for a short time in the middle of the harbor when it exploded,” Sgt. Dennis Breckner said in a statement. The boat’s owner swam to a nearby dock to call for help, according to a news release.
Police stated that the terrible boat accident was likely caused by a spark that ignited fume-filled air in the boat’s hull. A fuel leak may have dripped into the boat compartment, creating a dangerous fire risk.
Trent McWhinney, another boater who was nearby, jumped into his dingy and pulled alongside the burning boat — a 35-foot power boat named “Neptune” — to help pull the victims to safety.
McWhinney took the group to a dock near the Warner Fire Station. They were then taken to a local hospital for treatment of burn injuries that ranged from 5% to 50% of their bodies, Breckner said. The 7-year-old suffered the worst burns.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived, Breckner said, they found the boat “smoldering” and sprayed it with foam to diffuse any fumes. The boat, which he said is still in one piece, was towed to nearby Sunset Aquatic Park. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
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