It’s shocking when a boating incident happens that causes injuries because they so rarely do. When someone is on a boat, they may have the water to themselves. They might not think about the potential for a fire or explosion.
There was an explosion recently, though. At the Lake of the Ozarks, a boat exploded, according to an Aug. 17 report, and three people were injured. Officers in Missouri stated that the explosion happened when the boat was finishing refueling at a gas station.
When the 33-foot boat was finished refueling, the 55-year-old driver started its second engine. As he did, the boat completely exploded, throwing him into the water. Another passenger on the boat, 52, was also seriously injured but remained on board. The third victim, a gas station employee, was only 20. She suffered minor injuries in the explosion.
In videos from the scene, the boat is seen burning down to the waterline. The 20-year-old woman drove herself to a hospital, but the two other victims were flown to separate hospitals following the incident.
Fortunately, everyone in this case will survive, but this still points out the danger of refueling improperly. If you have a blower, you need to turn it off when refueling. After refueling, turn it back on for a few minutes before driving away.
Gas fumes can create a cloud that extends four or five feet from the dock to the boat, so any kind of spark could result in an explosion. If fumes get into the boat’s bilge, then there is a risk of a fire or explosion occurring.
Serious injuries require a serious response. Make sure that you have experienced assistance if you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s mistake.