The 65-year-old man heads to a hospital; the 20-foot boat heads to the bottom of the Hernando Beach channel.
By DUANE BOURNE
Published October 23, 2003
HERNANDO BEACH - A Hernando Beach man was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after his boat experienced an engine problem in the Gulf of Mexico and caught fire, authorities said.
James Johnston, 65, of 4372 Second Isle Drive was flown by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital, where he was being treated for second-degree burns to his arms and face, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Joseph Paez said.
Johnston and his wife, Judy Moon, 63, were traveling just off the coast in the Hernando Beach channel about 2:30 p.m. when they decided to go for a swim before heading back to shore, Paez said.
As Johnston turned off the boat's engine, he heard a loud explosion, Paez said. Soon, flames began shooting from the engine compartment, quickly engulfing the late-model Stamas boat and severely burning Johnston. Moon was not injured.
A sheriff's deputy who was patrolling the area saw the flames and smoke billowing from the 20-foot boat and responded.
When he arrived, both Johnston and Moon were in the water; the hair on Johnston's face and head had been burned off, Paez said.
The couple were helped aboard the sheriff's marine unit and taken to a residential dock along Flamingo Boulevard, where emergency personnel were waiting.
Paez said authorities had not determined what caused the engine explosion. He said the boat, which was gutted in the fire, sank about one hour later.
