A childhood friend of the man killed in Quebec in a Florida boat explosion said Monday that one of the victim’s sisters was among the six other passengers injured in the explosion.
Thi Cam Nhung Ly said 41-year-old Sebastien Gauthier was celebrating the holiday with his family when the explosion occurred in Fort Lauderdale. She told me that Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat when it caught fire, and was taken to the hospital.
“It is unimaginable and incomprehensible,” she told me on Saturday, adding that Gauthier’s family and mutual friends had informed her of his death.
Lee, 40, said she first met Gaultier in her early teens and they grew up together in Quebec City. She remembers him as a traveler who always had a smile on his face.
Get daily national news
Get the day’s top political, economic and current affairs news, headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“He’s still my best friend. I always call him if I need something, but he’s no longer with us,” she added.
Lee said the last time the two friends saw each other face to face was about two years ago, but she last messaged Gauthier on social media in the days before Monday’s explosion.
On January 1, her birthday, she was expecting a call from him, just like every year.
“I feel shocked and surprised and feel some remorse,” she said. “You regret not seeing him more. You spent yesterday crying. You can’t believe that your friend disappears from one day to the next.
Earlier this week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries in Broward County. The FWC said its preliminary investigation in Fort Lauderdale showed that the 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were activated, injuring all seven passengers on board.
A video posted on social media on Monday showed the ship engulfed in flames, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky.
However, Florida authorities did not provide Canadian Press With more information about the investigation.
The search for an explanation has also left Lê angry. While she mourns the loss of her old friend, she said she is still waiting for answers about what led to his unexpected death.
