One US Tourist Dead, Several Others Injured In Boat Explosion In Bahamas

An explosion on a tourist boat in the Bahamas on Saturday killed one American tourist and injured several others, the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed.

The explosion and fire took place off Barraterre island in the Exuma Cays around 9 a.m. EDT Saturday.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed in a statement that the tour boat was carrying 10 tourists and two Bahamians when an engine exploded.

"This is a sad day for Exuma and a sad day for our American friends. We are saddened and our hearts are hurting, but we will get through this together," Chester Cooper, a member of parliament for Exumas and Ragged Island said, adding the others were treated at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, CNN reported.

The captain of the boat who was treated at the same hospital has been discharged.

Four American tourists were airlifted to Bayfront Health in St. Petersburg, Florida, using an HC-130 Hercules helicopter from its Clearwater station.

A 48-year-old man with a fractured ankle is being treated at the Florida Hospital, the hospital authorities confirmed, the New York Post reported.

Another passenger identified as a 22-year-old American named Stefanie Schaffer is in a medically-induced coma and has lost both her legs.

She was on a summer vacation with her sister, mother and step-father, the Daily Mail reported.

“She's in really critical care right now and in really serious shape,” a family member said adding “I know she has really bad internal injuries.”

The family member said Stefanie’s mother Stacey has suffered multiple broken bones and internal injuries while her sister and step-father escaped with small injuries.

“The scary thing is Stefanie doesn't know that she's lost her legs, and that's what really upsets me,” she said.

The family has started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise $50,000 for their medical expenses. $16,363 has already been raised in 8 hours.

“Stefanie sustained life threatening injuries including a double amputation and remains in critical condition. Stacey suffered multiples broken bones and internal injuries. Paul and Brooke suffered bruises and cuts,” the page description states.

The identities and conditions of the other passengers were not released.

A video of the explosion shows flames and black smoke pouring into the sky shocking passengers on a nearby boat, who are then seen making an attempt to rescue the injured passengers. Three people jumped into the waters to pull one person to safety.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the Exuma branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force is investigating the cause of the explosion.

In May this year, five people were injured after an explosion on a tourist boat in the south of Tenerife, Spain.

Passengers from a nearby yacht managed to pull four women and a man from the water after they disembarked from the vessel into the sea.

The man, 45, and a woman, 25, suffered back injuries while the others bruised and hurt their legs.