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Well known boat captain Romaldo Badillo remains in a hospital in Guatemala being treated for severe burn injuries.

As we reported, that boat explosion happened just after 1 p.m. last week Thursday, and 4 very experienced boat operators, including Badillo, but he ended up with the worst injuries. So, how did it happen? Well, that's what the owner of the boat, Stephen Bradley, explained to us today. He explained that there were two – not one – explosions that happened to the boat:

Stephen Bradley - Survived Boat Explosion

"For the entire morning of Holy Thursday, which was last week Thursday, I had the boat in the boat yard and we were preparing the boat to take a provision to St. Georges Caye with the family - where we would normally spend the easter weekend. We packed drinks, ice, the boat was refuelled. It was checked out and everything and we left here about just about quarter to 1 the afternoon to launch the boat by the launch ramp - commonly known as the hanger launch ramp, which is by the airstrip. I reverse the boat off the trailer and started it easy with no problem. I just made a big U turn in the sea at idle speed because my driver and my work man parking the truck was to go with us on the trip. On completing the turn I backed into the seawall where he would come on to the front of the boat and about 200 feet from the seawall, just heard a big loud bang and the boat exploded. When the smoke cleared, I noticed that 2 of the other guys - George Nicolas Gonzales, his legs and his left arm were on fire and he jumped over board very quickly. The other young man that was with us, Wallace Flowers, he was thrown off the starboard side of the boat in the back of the boat into the sea. I was okay, I don't know how I escaped without an injury but unfortunately Mr. Badillo was thrown forward. The boats has 2 seats up front on port and star and he was thrown forward face down on the port side seat and the right side of his hand and his right leg was on fire. He was in a sort of a state of confusion. I tried to get him to stand to jump in the sea with me because I told him Romy, Romy, you got to get up, we have to leave the boat. But because of the way the blaze was coming out of the middle of the boat, I couldn't access his body properly to lift him and throw him into the sea. When I turned around to see where the others - another boat in the water owned by the Gomez's sons and I turned around to see behind me where that boat was - thinking I could get the boat to come up along side to assist me in taking Mr. Badillo out. When I turned around there was a second explosion and that blast, which was a smaller blast, knocked me into the sea. I tried to get to the back of the boat because only Mr. Badillo was in the boat at that time. When I got to the back of the boat to climb in I saw him do like a exercise push up and he just lean his body over the side on the port side and just threw himself into the sea which was when I swam up to him. The rescue boat has come by at that time and they threw a lifejacket which I held on to and gave him the lifejacket - and I sort of held him in the belt buckle of his pants waist."

Bradley told us that the boat, Ms Din, is in near perfect condition, and engine was only 37 hours old, meaning that it was almost brand new. He told us that he is still puzzled as to what caused the explosions, and so, he's asked the Fire Department to investigate the incident.

And while that remains a mystery, the urgency right now is the health of 59 year old Romy Badillo. He's in Guatemala going through a painful and costly treatment for second degree burns to 50% of his body. Now, his family and friends have organised a fundraiser for him. It's called the Beers and Bites fundraiser for Captain Romy Badillo. We spoke to his sister in law Nydia Riverol and she told us how this fundraiser will help the family with medical expenses

Nydia Riverol - Romy's Sister in Law

"Romy is a well known boat captain. He's been a boat captain for over 40 years. He's done different trips on his own, several people know him - he also does rescue dives, he was done several of those over the past years. The fundraising that we are having this Saturday is for him. We had to fly him out as you guys know on Friday. So he is Guatemala right now getting treatment. He's in a stable condition but very critical still. So the family will need to be there at least another 2 more months. So this weekend, a group of his friends and colleagues and people who know him, people who heard about him. Everybody has come together and we're going to be doing a barbecue fundraiser. We're going to be selling barbecue at the hour bar field. We'll also be having a cash bar so people can come and have drinks. We'll have beers, we'll have drinks, we'll have sodas for the kids. There is going to be a bouncy house, so the kids can come and play. We're also going to be having music and several DJs will be there as well. When they got him over to Guatemala they realised that the 3rd degree burns were only 2nd, which is good news but he's still very critical. He did receive over 50% of his body had gotten burnt, so he has to be sedated for a very long time while he's receiving treatment over there. So we keep asking for prayers because we can't ask for more you know."

The event is set for Saturday morning from 10 to 4 in the afternoon. There will also be a telethon and a dance at the Thirsty Thursday on Saturday night.

You can also send donations to the Fundraiser for Romy Badillo Atlantic Bank account, The account number is 211567972