One man is suffering from serious burn injuries after a boating accident on Shawnigan Lake Sunday afternoon, according to the RCMP.
The man was injured when the ski boat's engine caught fire, RCMP Cst. Graham Holmes said.
“One boat on the lake was having mechanical troubles and one of the drivers on the boat went to inspect their inboard motor and it actually erupted into flames, so much so, that it threw one of the passengers out of the boat.”
Cst. Holmes said several onlookers called emergency services and the boat burned for about 20 minutes before the fire dept. got there to put out the flames.
He said the five people aboard the boat had swum to a dock. The man was air lifted to Victoria General Hospital and four others were treated for minor injuries at the Cowichan District Hospital.
Const. Holmes said the RCMP are investigating.