Boat blows up on waterskiers

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

A toddler suffered burns when a speedboat exploded on Henderson Creek, catapulting four people into the water.

The owner, 19-year-old Brant Hailes, was taking friends and family members waterskiing when his boat exploded without warning.

"There was just a huge bang. I was thrown into the corner of the boat, looked up and everyone was in the water screaming," said Mr Hailes, who bought the boat second-hand six months ago for $2000.

A 2-year-old boy was thrown from the boat, along with three adults. All four were wearing life-jackets.

Mr Hailes leaped from the vessel, unable to dampen a blaze started by the explosion, which had blown the fire extinguishers overboard.

The four passengers were collected from the water by Simon Bell, who heard the "thunderous bang" 200m away at a Taikata Rd boat dock in Te Atatu.

Mr Bell managed to extinguish the fire by squirting water from the propeller of his speedboat motor, preventing Mr Hailes' boat from sinking.

The fire, however, had already reduced it to a blackened shell. The flames melted expensive wake boards and waterskis.

The 2-year-old boy and a man were taken to hospital with moderate burns to the face and legs.

"It was pretty scary. I was just more worried about everyone else," said Mr Hailes.

Rob Huxford heard the explosion and screams while visiting a friend living near the creek.

"I was about to jump through the mangroves to swim out and help, but I saw other boats coming," said Mr Huxford, who saw large flames and smoke billowing into the air.

Henderson fire officer Allistair Sadler said the explosion was probably caused by a split fuel line which had leaked petrol into the electrical system of the speedboat's motor.

"They were very lucky. Fortunately a lot of people were around to assist them."

Fire safety officers are investigating.

Herald Online Marine