ON SEPTEMBER 05, 2023, I US PARK RANGER ALONG WITH RANGER WERE DISPATCHED TO NEANDERTHAL COVE ON LAKE POWELL FOR THE REPORT OF A PWC EXPLOSION WITH ONE PERSON HAVING BURN INJURIES. I REQUESTED CLASSIC AIR MEDICAL TO RESPOND. WE DEPARTED WAHWEAP GOVERNMENT DOCK AT 1239 HOURS ENTROUTE TO NEANDERTHAL COVE. CLASSIC AIR MEDICAL ARRIVED ON SCHENE AT APPROXIMATELY 1256 AND LOCATED THE VESSEL TO BEGIN PATIENT CARE. NPS ARRIVED ON SCENE VIA VESSEL AT APPROXIMATELY 1327 HOURS. CLASSIC AIR MEDICAL WAS TAKING OFF WITH PATIENT UPON OUR ARRIVAL. NPS THEN BEGAN THE BOAT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION.
TWO WITNESSES NEAR THE VESSEL BOTH STATED THAT THE OWNER OF THE PWC, LATER IDENTIFED 01/23/1979, WAS WORKING ON THE PWC BECAUSE IT WAS NOT STARTING. Operator ATTEMPTED TO START IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. WHILE WORKING ON IT, A GASKET IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST CAUSING GAS TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. Operator THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE PWC AGAIN WHEN THE FUMES IGNITED CAUSING AN EXPLOSION.
Operator WAS STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE PWC AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. Operator WAS BURNED AND INJURED WHICH CAUSED  HIM TO JUMP INTO THE WATER. Operator AS PULLED FROM THE WATER AND BROUGHT INTO THE HOUSEBOAT WHERE HE WAS TREATED BY WITNESSES UNTIL CLASSICS ARRIVAL. Operator SUFFERED 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO 10 PERCENT OF HIS BODY PRIMARILY ON HIS LEFT SIDE. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO PAGE ER VIA CLASSIC HELICOPTER.
LAKE POWELL
WAHWEAP                       