Friend of Quebec man killed in Florida boat explosion says his sister also injured

The charred remains of two boats are seen Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, at Lauderdale Marina near the 15th Street Fisheries restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (The Canadian Press/Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion Monday said one of the victim's sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast.

Thi Cam Nhung Lê said 41-year-old Sebastien Gauthier was celebrating the holidays with his family when the explosion occurred in Fort Lauderdale. Lê said Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat when it erupted into flames, and she was taken to a hospital.

“It’s unimaginable, incomprehensible,” Lê said Saturday, adding that Gauthier’s family and mutual friends informed her about his death.

Lê, 40, said she first met Gauthier in her early adolescence and they grew up together in Quebec City. She remembers him as a globetrotter who always had a smile on his face.

“He’s still my best friend. It’s always him I call if I need something, but he’s no longer with us,” she said.

The last time the two friends saw each other face-to-face was about two years ago, Lê said, but she last messaged Gauthier on social media in the days before Monday's explosion.

And on Jan. 1, her birthday, she would have expected a call from him, just like every year.

“I’m shocked, surprised, and feeling a little bit of regret," she said. "You regret not having seen him more. I spent yesterday crying. You can’t believe 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 a 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started, injuring all seven passengers on board.

Video posted on social media Monday showed the vessel engulfed in flames, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky.

However, Florida authorities have not provided The Canadian Press with more information about the investigation.

Searching for an explanation has also left Lê angry. As she mourns the loss of her longtime friend, she said she’s still waiting for answers about what led to his unexpected death.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024.