Newport Beach : 2 Hurt, 5 Swim to Safety in Power Boat Explosion

Two people suffered burns and five others swam to safety after an explosion rocked a power boat off the Balboa Bay Club Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Mark Clayton, 33, of Newport Beach, the boat operator, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange with second-degree burns. He was listed in good condition Monday. A passenger, Eric Grandia, 24, of Newport Beach was listed at the hospital in serious condition, also with second-degree burns.

Clayton was piloting the 30-foot Columbia powerboat in the middle of the Lido Nord channel when the flash explosion occurred at 5:12 p.m., Sheriff’s Lt. Richard J. Olson said. The boat had been refueled 15 minutes before, but the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, Olson said.

Five passengers jumped into the channel and swam to safety, Olson said. A sixth passenger, who had a cast on his leg, remained with the boat until two sheriff’s boats arrived about two minutes later.

The fire was already out by the time the rescue boats arrived, Olson said.