Boat explodes after gas pumped into fishing rod holder; 2 Charlotte men hurt

OCEAN ISLE, N.C. — Two helicopters were dispatched to Ocean Isle Beach after a boat exploded Friday afternoon, officials told Channel 9 affiliate WWAY.

Emergency crews were called around 4 p.m. to a boat explosion at Ocean Isle Fishing Center at 65 Causeway Drive. The boat was fully involved when firefighters arrived.

Two people were on the boat, including one in the bilge, officials said. The other person was refueling the boat when it exploded.

Officials said boat owner David Martin Jr. and passenger Jonathan Bickett, both from Charlotte, accidentally put fuel into a fishing rod holder instead of the gas tank.

Jeff Williamson, who runs a fishing charter out of Ocean Isle Beach, said he warned the boaters after seeing the sheen of gas on the water.

"I advised him he better call a tow company to tow him back to the marina instead of cranking the boat because it might explode," he told WECT.

As battery cables were being disconnected in an effort to prevent a spark, a spark occurred anyway, igniting the fuel.

"It literally sounded like someone stuffed dynamite into the hull of the boat and lit it on fire, and it was just a loud boom,” said Colby Cummings, a witness.

Martin and Bickett were airlifted to a Chapel Hill hospital. An ambulance took another person to a hospital in Myrtle Beach with minor burns.

Click here for updates.

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