On 18 June 2023 at aproximately 11:30 Hours  a vessel launched from Old Ferry Boat Ramp. When the operator attempted to start the ignition there was an explosion from the engine compartment which caused one of the occupants to be burned.
On 18 June at Approximately 1500 hours, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ( FWCC ) was dispatched to a one vessel boating accident with injury. The accident occurred at 1130 hrs at Old Ferry Boat Ramp in Middleburg, FL. The Individuals Involved in the accident had already recovered their vessel and traveled home. I contacted the vessel owner and made arrangements to meet him at his residence. The vessel owner was not on the vessel at the time of the accident. The vessel operator was OP1. The occupants were VICTIM and PAX 1. 
  At approximately 1130 am OP1 was backing up his boat and trailer at the Old Ferry boat ramp. He loaded OP1, pax 1 and victim into the boat prior to launching. Once the vessel was free of the trailer it started to drift away from the boat ramp so OP1 attempted to start the engine at which time the blower malfunctioned causing a blast. The flame from the blast struck victim on the left leg and left arm. OP1 than pulled out the fire extinguisher and extinguished the flames. Victim was taken to the hospital were she was told she had a superficial thickness burn to her leg and potentially a partial thickness burn to her arm. Damage to the boat consisted of some damaged wiring. ; Victim went to the hospital were she was told that she had superficial thickness burns ( 1st degree ) to her left leg and potentially some partial thickness burns ( second degree ) to her left arm.

Black Creek
MIDDLEBURG                    