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Shortly after a chartered tour boat left the coast Saturday in the Bahamas, it exploded and caught fire. A woman was killed; nine others were injured.
According to the Bahamas Royal Police, the engine of the 40-foot boat exploded around 9 am when the ship was off Barraterre Island in the Exuma Islands. The boat, owned by Four C & # 39; s Adventures, was carrying 10 American and two Bahamian tourists at the time.
The video captured on scene shows panic in a nearby ship as flames explode at the back of the tour boat. Some in the nearby boat jumped into the water while wearing lifejackets and waded towards the burning ship as black smoke rose in the air.
Christian Topperwien, who was doing a day – long tour to see the famous swimmers Bahamas guard Nassau that the explosion occurred on a boat boarding for a similar excursion. ;half a day.
Topperwien told the publication that he had heard a "little noise" and that he had then seen the ship catch fire.
"It was crazy, people from our boat jumped into the water and we took people out of our boat, all those injured My wife and I helped with towels to stop the bleeding and try to calm people down, "he told the Guardian. "… I still can not believe it."
The woman who died was identified as Maleka Jackson of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who was celebrating her 15th wedding anniversary with her husband Tiran Jackson; He is in critical condition at Broward Health North in Pompano Beach. According to a GoFundMe account for the family, Maleka Jackson is also survived by a 12-year-old son.
The page had raised over $ 43,000 for Tiran Jackson's medical and travel expenses Tuesday afternoon.
"Maleka was a loving mother, a dedicated woman, a grateful girl and a supportive friend," reads the page. "She will be sorely missed and her heritage will live forever."
Maleka Jackson, her 12 year old son and her husband Tiran Jackson. Maleka Jackson died Saturday during an explosion on a Bahamas tour boat
GoFundMe
Stefanie Schaffer, 22, was seriously injured during the blast, resulting in an amputation double leg. Schaffer, a dancer, is a senior at the University of Castleton in Vermont. She was on the boat tour with her sister Brooke Schaffer and her mother and stepfather Stacey and Paul Bender, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help with her medical expenses.
"Stacey suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries, Paul and Brooke suffered bruises and cuts," reads the page, which has raised more than $ 106,000 Tuesday afternoon. "We know that their expenses will far exceed this amount because it becomes a long struggle for this family."
John Iman, who was on the boat with Sheila Jones and her son, Haiden Jones, who frequents Brooke, Stefanie Schaffer's sister, told ABC News that the explosion occurred about three times minutes after the start of the trip.
"Stefanie was sitting on the right side in front so she was probably closer to the explosion," Iman told the TV channel. "We used plywood and some two-six as stretchers to get the passengers to the coast."
Schaffer is treated in a Florida hospital, he said.
Stefanie Schaffer, left, had to be amputated both legs after being badly injured Saturday in a Bahamas boat explosion
GoFundMe
