IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA, A 33-FT. CABIN CRUISER set out Saturday morning from Apollo Beach with 14 family members on a pleasure trip. They joined several other boats in an anchorage off of Pine Key Island, more popularly known as “Beer Can Island.”
While they were anchored in the early afternoon, three of the family went off the boat and were wading in the bay about 30 ft. away when the Sea Ray suddenly exploded.
Tampa Tribune / Wisecarver photo
It was described as extremely violent by the experienced boaters who witnessed the tragedy. All eleven people that were on the boat were injured, seven of them seriously with three receiving life-threatening injuries. In addition, one other person nearby the blast was injured.
Tampa Tribune / Wisecarver photo
WTVT Ch. 13 has this video report on the fire:
Immediately, dozens of nearby bathers and boaters dashed to the scene and started pulling in bodies, rescuing them from inevitable drowning. The Tampa Tribune has a good report on the impromptu rescue efforts HERE.
Tampa Tribune / Wisecarver photo
WTVT has this video of interviews with witnesses and rescuers:
Tampa Bay Online has a full photo gallery HERE.
Listen to the 9-1-1 calls HERE.
The Coast Guard says that the boat was not overloaded. It is not unusual for that many people to be aboard a 33-ft. craft. Also, the positioning of the boat and the techiniques of the anchoring indicate that it was operated by an experience boater.
Tampa Tribune / Morse photo
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