A two-year-old, a pregnant woman and three other adults were all thrown
off a boat by an explosion Sunday, according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials.
Craig Fulghum, with DNR, said a 911 caller reported the explosion on board the boat near a boat ramp in the old Highway 29 area on the Georgia side of Lake Hartwell.
The family had just put the boat into the water when the explosion happened, Fulghum said. All five people were blown off the boat into the water, he said. The water near the ramp was a couple feet deep. A witness said 
the two-year-old landed on a cushion, which saved him
the two-year-old landed on a cushion, which saved him
The five people were all burned. The pregnant woman was airlifted to the Augusta Burn Center. The others were transported by ambulance.
Fulghum said Georgia DNR, South Carolina DNR, Hart County EMS and Hart County Fire Department all worked together on the rescue, which was critical to saving the victims because they were able to get them medical care quickly.
Nathanael Downs, who was on board the boat with his family, said, "The Lord really has blessed us. The first responders did a phenomenal job. We're definitely grateful for them. By the time I got to shore with my son and my wife, Life Flight was already overhead"
Fulghum said the woman was flown out less than half an hour after the explosion.
The boat was fully engulfed when emergency crews got there, and it drifted into a cove and continued to burn until the fire department was able to put it out, Fulghum said. The boat is a total loss.
Fulghum said there were a lot of people at the park and boat ramp, and it helped rescuers because so many people assisted.
Downs said another boat picked up him and his family.
"Good Samaritans got my wife to the shore and assisted me in getting me and my son on the boat and to the shore," Downs said.
"We're just thankful to be alive and in good spirits," he said.
Downs said he hopes his wife and son will be released from the hospital Tuesday.
"Most tragedies like this don't end this way," Downs said. "Thank you to everybody that helped us."
Officials said a blast appears to have been sparked by a ventilation issue.
They said a boat's blowers should always be turned on five minutes before and after fueling.
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