Medical personnel from the Myrtle Health Complex stretcher the men blast victims for medical attention

By Vivian Tyson
SUN Associate Editor

Two men who were said to be working on a tug boat in Sandy Point , North Caicos on Tuesday, April 29 were in critical condition at press time, after the boat blew up with them on board, another man who was nearby also received injuries and had to be hospitalized.

The SUN understands that the two severely injured men are Haitian Nationals. They are identified as Francis Tony, 24 and Mark Phemele, 57. The other man, whose name was not released is said to be local. The police said information was still ongoing, as they attempt to get to the bottom of what actually caused the blast.

However, initial theory is that the cleaning agent used by the men to clean the vessel may have spilled on a battery, which precipitated the blast.

The police noted that at about 2pm , Tony and Phemele were working on the tug boat that measured approximately 70 feet long by 20 feet wide. Sometime afterwards, the other man who arrived on the scene began unloading materials from a container nearby. While all three men were working on the boat a loud explosion was heard, and it was revealed that the vessel had exploded.

Woman Superintendent of Police Sharon Whittaker said, as a result of the blast, the two Haitians on the vessel received serious burns all over the bodies. The impact also flung the third man landing him some distance, resulting in him sustaining burns to the left foot, a sprained right ankle and further injuries to his elbow.

All three were speed-boated to Providenciales, where they were taken by ambulance to the Myrtle Rigby Health Complex in serous condition. As a result of their conditions Tony and Phemele were airlifted to Haiti for further medical attention.

An eyewitness said seconds after hearing the explosion, he saw the two screaming men covered in flames.

When the local press got wind of the accident, members camped out at the dock at Heaven Down Rock in Leeward. The first victim was carried to the dock and transported to hospital. This was captured by some members of the media, who photographed and took notes of the event without impeding the medical process.

Some persons at the dock were not in favour of the media being there, and as such, when the boat returned from North Caicos with the two critically injured Haitians on board - its captain was told to back-up and release the victim at another dock.

While the medical team tried to evade the cameras of the media, the police vehicle that was sent to guide the ambulance through the traffic along Leeward Highway , got off track, and had great deal difficulty in locating the dock to which the boated diverted. The ambulance, which had problems finding the location, was finally spotted by the police vehicle loading the injured on board at private dock near in Leeward.

Members of the public who were assisting the police in finding the ambulance complained that the cat and mouse game embarked upon by the boat team could result in the men succumbing to their injuries.

Tuesday's boat explosion was only the second such incident in about six months, as in December, a Guyanese national was killed after the sail boat he was repairing in Leeward, exploded sending him more than thirty feet in the air before he landed near by.