Captain charged after NYC boat explosion leaves 22 victims injured or swimming for their lives
Officials say three people were injured and 19 others were forced to swim for their lives from the blaze after it took over the ship.
The boat caught fire around 8:30pm on Saturday night while out on the Sound near City Island, in the Bronx, with first responders rushing to the scene.
Images shared on social media shows thick plumes of smoke billowing from the vessel.
Another clip shows the fire taking over the rear of the boat, with everyone onboard running for the front of the ship.
Three people were pulled from the waters while the remainder managed to make their way to a nearby island where they waited to be taken back to shore by the Coast Guard.
One person is in a critical condition, another serious and the third is stable, with the captain of the ship being charged with operating the vessel while intoxicated.
Joshua Brito, 33, of the Bronx was hit with a DWI and reckless endangerment in relation to the incident, the NYPD said.
Those injured onboard were all adults, with their ages ranging from 18 to 58, police said.
Sources have told The New York Post that the inferno was started due to an explosion on board, but officials have yet to identify an official cause.
One witness told the outlet: 'The only thing I saw was a bunch of smoke while walking down the block. It was very thick heavy black smoke.'
New York City Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Meyers said in a statement: 'Marine 4 gave a verbal for a boat fire and multiple people in the water to the Bronx dispatcher.
'At that point, the Bronx dispatcher had land units respond to come into City Island and begin to accept patients.
'Marine 4 grabbed three people out of the water. At that point, they transported them to one of the docks that was close by, where Engine 70 was waiting and EMS was waiting as well to begin CPR on the victims.'
Meyers added: 'The other 19 folks swam to Hart Island. They were just off the east end of Hart Island, and then they were picked up by the NYPD Coast Guard and FDNY boats and transported back over to the docks at the Yacht Club on City Island.
'This just goes to show you what a coordinated effort happens between our marine units, our land units, and our EMS units to get here to help save lives, by responding in here, by communicating well, and by working with our City partners to help ensure that we protect the people of the City of New York.'
The Coast Guard identified the ship as being a 44ft powerboat with an enclosed cabin. Brito's arraignment was pending in Bronx Criminal Court on Sunday.
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