Boy, 5, seriously burned after boat explosion on Oklahoma lake

A 5-year-old boy has been taken to hospital after suffering severe burns as a boat exploded on an Oklahoma lake.

At least three people were on the boat at the time of the explosion, which took place at Bridgeview Marina at Lake Texoma near Madill, Oklahoma, at 2.45pm on Sunday (4 August 2024). Two women, aged 51 and 25, were reportedly on the boat along with the child.

While the adults escaped without injury, the young boy suffered severe burns to his arms and legs, with minor burns to his face, according to WFAA and KOCO.

The boy was taken to the burn centre at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, almost 100 miles away, by helicopter. He was released on Monday evening (5 August 2024), and the family has returned home to Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety confirms that the fire broke out after a routine refuelling stop. When the engine was restarted, the spark ignited gasoline fumes, triggering an explosion that swiftly turned the boat into a ball of flames.

The Madill Fire Department issued images that show the aftermath of the explosion, with firefighters battling to control the inferno.

The young boy is reported to be in a stable condition but is expected to have a long road to recovery.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has launched an investigation into the incident. Initial reports suggest equipment failure as the likely cause of the explosion.

Madill Fire Department expressed gratitude for the joint rescue effort in a post on Facebook.

“Madill Fire Department and Tri-City Fire Department worked diligently to extinguish the fire. We drafted water from the lake and were able to extinguish the fire in a timely manner,” the post reads.

“We’d like to say thank you to MCEMS, MCSO, Tow-Boat-US, and Tri-City Fire Department for the hard work and effort it took to care for the individuals and extinguish the fire.”

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