Father burned in holiday boat explosion in Fort Lauderdale has died
A father of four who was burned in a boat explosion near Fort Lauderdale over Memorial Day weekend has died, according to a GoFundMe account set up to raise money for his burial and funeral.
The fundraising page said the sudden passing of Joshua Fifi, a 29-year-old father, ' left his family, friends, and community in shock and grief.'
Fifi's family hopes to raise $11,000 to cover Joshua's funeral and support his four children.
'Joshua was just beginning a new chapter in life. He was known for his sense of humor, his easygoing spirit, and the way he could make people laugh even on the hardest days. He was someone people could count on and now, we're coming together to support him one last time,' wrote fundraiser organizer Hannah Galindo
On Memorial Day, 11 people, including two children, were injured after a 39-foot Sea Ray exploded in the Intracoastal Waterway about 5:45 p.m. near Ninth Street, where a sandbar draws boaters and beachgoers on holiday weekends. The boat was anchored at the time. Fifi had been in a medically induced coma at Jackson Memorial Hospital with third-degree burns covering 70% of his body. The GoFundMe account was originally set up for his recovery.
The fireball, which quickly burned out on its own, was caused by fuel vapors igniting, according to Frank Guzman, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesperson.
The injured boaters were taken from the scene to Broward Health Medical Center. Ten of the patients, including the two children, were later taken by ambulance to the Miami Burn Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Guzman said. A dog was also on board but was not injured.
The children, boys ages 5 and 7, sustained extensive burns, Guzman said. Those who were injured had 'varying degrees of burn injuries and trauma.'
South Florida has seen at least a half-dozen boat explosions over the last year, including two within days of each other in May. Safety experts recommend a number of measures such as smelling for continued gasoline fumes after fueling.
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