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August 19, 2008

No loss of life

Family relates heroic acts after explosion

Jonathan Jackson

The mother of one of the four people injured when the boat they were riding on exploded on Lake Sinclair Friday said she is still amazed there was no loss of life as a result of the accident.

Friday around 2 p.m., a boat carrying six people exploded and sent four people to the hospital and subsequently to the Augusta Burn Center. William Holland, 18, of Wilmington, N.C.; Evan Holland, 22, Lofton Mitchell, 22, and Ryan Little, 17, all of Milledgeville; Troy Brantley, and a sixth person were aboard the boat.

The boat had reportedly just been put in the water, and the six were planning on knee boarding on the lake in the vicinity of Airport Island. The craft was running around a cove at approximately 3,000 rpms when Cummings said the occupants aboard the boat reported hearing a loud boom, and all six were either ejected or jumped from the boat as it exploded.

A lake resident heard the explosion, saw the fire and called 911. All people aboard made it to shore.

Cummings said Baldwin Fire Rescue, the Georgia DNR and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the call and Will Holland, Evan Holland, Little and Brantley were transported to Oconee Regional Medical Center for treatment. She said that all were able to leave of their own accord following treatment, and that at least some went on for out-patient burn treatment.

In an e-mail sent to The Union-Recorder Monday, Evan Holland’s mother said her son swam a severely burned and almost drowning Ryan Little to the shore, using one arm to hold Little and his other arm and hand, burned from the explosion, to swim. She said her son was calling to the others to “swim, swim” and that it helped the boys know where to swim to safety.

Lofton Mitchel reportedly assisted the unnamed boater to shore after the accident. She said according to her son, the events after the explosion felt as though they were happening in “slow motion, like something out of a movie.” She also said that her son kept close watch on cousin Will Holland, visiting from North Carolina, never taking his eyes off him.

She said Evan Holland was burned on his arm and hand, and cousin Will Holland suffered second and third degree burns to his legs. Both were treated with skin grafts at the burn center in Augusta, and Will Holland has returned home to North Carolina and will follow up with treatment at the Charleston, S.C., burn center. Evan Holland has returned home and will follow up with treatment at the Augusta Burn Center.

The boat was a total loss and burned to the waterline, Cummings said, making investigation next to impossible. Cummings did say that according to the ranger who worked the accident, no charges were pending and no alcohol was involved.

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