RedactedNarrative: Prior to incident, Owner assisted the Operator by removing vegetation from inside and around the rear jet of the PWC as it had become plugged.  While Operator was slowly driving the Tiger Shark Montego DLX PWC away from the shore, she heard a “gurgling” noise, with the PWC not operating or accelerating normally.  Operator then heard a loud bang and felt an explosion from the engine compartment area underneath her which launched her and the PWC seat into the air.   Immediately after, the  PWC became engulfed in flames, before being almost completely incinerated.  The operator was hospitalized at the local hospital for stomach and abdominal pain and was eventually transported via helicopter to another hospital.