One dead, 4 others hospitalized after fiery boat explosion in Dania Beach
FORT LAUDERDALE — One man died and four others went to hospitals with severe burns and other injuries after a boat exploded in Dania Beach Friday afternoon.
Broward County Sheriff's Fire Rescue answered calls for help at Nautical Ventures Marina on Ravenswood Road around 4:30 p.m. Chopper 4 saw the vessel sitting on a trailer, with billowing black smoke that was seen from miles away.
Crews delivered the boat to undergo work in preparation for the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, investigators said. As a group of five workers began fueling the boat it exploded, investigators said.
"I was waiting on a table [at Rustic Inn Crabhouse just north of the marina] when we just heard this massive boom," Bryan Harrison, a server at the Rustic Inn said.
"We felt it, everyone throughout the building," added Danielle Schmergel, another server.
"Originally, I thought someone hit the boat," said server Allison Conway.
"The whole building shook for a second and I was like that's weird," said Shaunna Mulvaney, another server.
Upon arrival, fire officials found five men hurt.
"By the time we ran outside, we (saw) all the ambulance, fire trucks and they were toting people off and a couple people they toted off didn't look so good," Harrison said.
Paramedics carried four of them to hospitals. Each arrived in critical condition. The fifth worker died at the scene, BSO told CBS News Miami.
Investigators are not sure at this time whether the victims were marina employees or worked for another company. They did not identify any of those hurt.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
