A father and son survived a spectacular explosion Tuesday while aboard a boat docked in Port McNeill.
The 46-year-old father suffered serious burns, but not life-threatening injuries, while the 13-year-old boy sustained minor burns. Both are from Port McNeill.
According to RCMP, the two were aboard a 50-foot pleasure at the Port McNeill Fuel Dock and Marina when the explosion occurred around 3 p.m.
The explosion came from the engine room and the force of the blast blew out all the windows in the boat as well as the fuel dock station.
The station attendant also suffered some minor injuries from the flying glass.
The vessel had just taken on 500 litres of fuel, and the explosion is believed to be accidental. By the time police, ambulance paramedics and volunteers from the local fire department arrived, the boat was found partially submerged next to the dock.
A definitive cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Canadian Coast Guard personnel were on scene to assist the dock owner with fuel cleanup while Fisheries and Oceans Canada was also notified.