An explosion at noon yesterday on board a crawfishing vessel in Salt Pond, Long Island killed a well-known boat-builder and injured another, according to a senior police officer on that island.
Four men were reportedly on board the “Summer Crab 2,” a 52 ft, fiber hull craft, when the blast occurred ASP Lindy Knowles told the Bahama Journal.
Mr. Knowles said that investigations so far revealed that Elijah “Mac” Knowles, 55, of Mangrove Bush was using a blowtorch, to fix the freezer, when it burst into flames, fatally injuring him.
Another boat hand, Jessie Knowles, also of Mangrove Bush, sustained burn injuries to the face and upper body.
He was flown to New Providence following the explosion. His age was unknown at the time.
The other two men, Danny Burrows and Edsel Knowles, both in their 30’s escaped the explosion uninjured.
ASP Knowles said that a preliminary investigation revealed that gas fumes in the area contributed to the blast.
He added that repairs were being made in preparation for the crawfish season, which begins August 1.
Knowles was a leading boat builder, having built vessels like the Rupert’s Legend, Scarifice and The Courageous.
“We have lost a good man, who did a lot of charity work,” ASP Knowles said.
By: Royanne Forbes, The Bahama Journal
