NEAR KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (WSVN) – Four individuals were able to escape after a small explosion went off on their boat near Key Biscayne.
City of Miami Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene near the Marathon fueling station on the Rickenbacker Causeway at approximately 8:50 a.m., Wednesday.
“These are very serious circumstances whenever you have a boat that explodes,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Ronald Washington said. “If this didn’t happen in such a populated area, this happened in the middle of the ocean, you want to be able to call for help.”
Officials said four occupants were on a 26-foot boat when, they said, it exploded.
Three of the four occupants were able to swim back to the dock.
The other boater jumped into the water but was not able to swim to the dock. Rescue crews assisted the boater before transporting him to Mercy Hospital in stable condition. Officials said he sustained a laceration on his foot.
“The passengers did tell me that they had fueled up this morning,” said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez. “They were going to go out on the boat for the day. Once they were making their way out of the dock, right behind me, they had the explosion occur. Luckily, it was close to land, where they were able to make it back rather quickly, and we were able to get the other gentleman onto the dock rather quickly, as well.”
All four of the victims are expected to be OK.
7SkyForce HD hovered over the scene where officials could be seen investigating in the water.
The vessel is no longer on fire, but remains in the water.
The damage is said to be minimal, as it was contained to an inner portion of the vessel.
FWC is now investigating the incident, but they have yet to determine a cause for the explosion.
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