Officials say jet ski that exploded on Lake Norman was under recall

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Wildlife officers confirmed to Channel 9 the jet ski that exploded on Lake Norman Tuesday evening was under recall.

The incident happened near Whaling Drive, close to Mooresville, just before 5:30 p.m.

A 59-year-old man was taken to the hospital and at last check was in critical condition.

“He was blown into the air,” a neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said.

That neighbor jumped into the lake to save the man and, with the help of nearby landscape workers, managed to rescue him.

“Just sprinted out here, hopped the fence and jumped right in the water,” the neighbor said.

Simon Smith was sitting on his porch when he heard the explosion and originally thought a tree fell on his house.

“I already prayed about it,” Smith said. “It could happen to me any day.”

Officials said the jet ski was an F12 that was under recall. They were looking into a fuel ventilation problem as the cause.

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