MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A boat on Biscayne Bay burst into flames Friday, with two good Samaritans on a nearby boat rushing to help the two people on board.
Now, the boat captain, who was with a family of four, including a baby on board, rescued the two stranded boaters and shared how the events unfolded.
“I start telling the guy, like yelling at the guy like, ‘Hey, jump off the boat, jump off the boat, it’s gonna explode, it’s gonna explode. The guy jumped off the boat. He was trying to swim to us to our boat, but the current was super strong, so he didn’t get to the boat. And I’m like, ‘ Hey, go to the other side, I’ll pick you up,'” said Santiago Stubrin, the boat captain and good Samaritan.
Miami Beach Fire crews and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the boat fire underneath the Julia Tuttle Causeway before Alton Road on Friday night.
“Get away from the boat!” yelled a witness.
One of the boaters on the engulfed boat was able to make it onto the concrete, while the owner of the boat had to jump into the water.
“The other one was on top of the boat, and with the boat on fire right on the bow of the boat, on the anchor,” said Stubrin.
The owner was eventually pulled from the water by Stubrin as he brought his boat over.
“Hey, I’m going to pick you up on the other side, just swim away. Got a ladder right here,” said Stubrin.
Sturbin tossed the boater a life ring and brought him on board his boat.
“I’m going to go pick up your friend, and I’ll be back for you, ok alright,” said Stubrin.
No one was injured.
“Boating isn’t just something you can do without safety,” said Stubrin.
The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. Friday, during golden hour on Biscayne Bay.
Cellphone video shows the vessel engulfed by fire, with flames shooting out from the back of the boat. A massive plume of smoke was also seen rising high above the causeway, visible for miles.
Firefighters responded quickly and began dousing the boat with water to knock down the flames.
As the sun set, crews were out on the water looking at the charred vessel after the blaze was extinguished.
“My first thing was to just see what I could do, what I could help with, you know,” said Stubrin.
Now, the two boaters are headed home safe thanks to the quick actions from strangers on the water and first responders.
“It does feel good to save somebody’s life,” said Stubrin
This comes less than a week after the boat explosion near Haulover Sandbar that sent 11 people to the hospital.
7news has learned that several people aboard that boat are taking legal action.
They’re being represented by Morgan and Morgan.
The law firm, in a statement, said:
“Morgan & Morgan is examining all possible causes of this explosion, including product failures, refueling errors, and issues with the fuel system that could have caused the accumulation of fuel vapors in the hull. We believe this catastrophe could have been prevented and will fight to hold all entities that may have contributed to the explosion accountable.”
With two major boating incidents less than a week apart and Memorial Day weekend coming up, boating safety must be a priority.
“If anyone smells raw fuel on a boat, that’s a big red flag. A lot of older boats, if they’re not inspected on a regular basis, if there’s any type of raw fuel leaking down in the bilge, those vapors are going to stay trapped,” said Captain Nick Morot.
Morot with Miami Boating Lessons shared what you need if you’re going out in the water.
“Making sure you have the right safety equipment that’s mandated by the US Coast Guard, making sure you have life jackets for everybody, making sure you have working fire extinguishers, and having a horn or whistle to get somebody’s attention,” said Morot.
The cause of both boating incidents is currently under investigation.
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