A significant explosion aboard a sailboat injured two men and a woman on the vessel on Thursday, June 5 shortly after 10 a.m. (Martin Martens)

By Ian Holmes

boat explosion

Three people injured in Deep Bay boat explosion

Jun 5, 2025 | 3:22 PM

DEEP BAY — An apparent propane explosion injured three people aboard a sailboat, while the destroyed vessel sank at Deep Bay Marina.

It happened on Thursday, June 5 shortly after 10 a.m. at the marina located on Burne Rd. north of Qualicum Beach.

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) states two patients were flown from the scene.

“One patient was transported by air ambulance in critical condition, one patient was transported by air ambulance in serious condition, and one patient was transported by ground ambulance in stable condition,” the BCEHS statement to NanaimoNewsNOW read.

Two air ambulances were dispatched to a boat explosion at Deep Bay Marina. (Martin Martens)

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Martin Martens, a Comox Valley Search and Rescue volunteer and trained paramedic, lives two doors down from the marina.

He sprang into action after he and his wife realized what had happened.

“The house just shook. I’ve got a bunch of large Cedar trees outside the house – I thought a tree had fallen on the house or an earthquake had started. I mean the house felt like it moved an inch or two.”

Martens approached the marina and helped the injured patients.

“The boat was on fire, the rear looked like the engine compartment was on fire, had smoke coming out, you could smell propane. My main concern was that the scene was not safe, to get people out as much as possible.”

He noted the patients had a variety of trauma-related injuries from blast, including burns.

Martens noted two men were flown for treatment, while a woman was loaded into the ground ambulance.

“Considering the shape of the boat, it’s amazing they survived the blast.”

After leaning to one side with remnants of the exploded boat floating around it, Martens said the badly damaged boat eventually sank.

He said a neighbouring Deep Bay Royal Marine Search and Rescue boat was also damaged, but wasn’t sure if any other nearby vessels were impacted.

Windows were blown out from a Royal Canadian Marine SAR vessel stationed at Deep Bay Marina (Martin Martens)

The scene was later secured and surrounded with police tape, Martens said.

Deep Bay Volunteer Fire Department (DBVFD) chief George Lenz said the boat was smoking, while no active flames were visible from the badly damaged boat when their members arrived.

Lenz said it was a challenging incident, stretching their department’s resources thin.

“It was fairly demanding for the crew having to set up two different helicopter landing zones, as well as dealing with the possible fire and patients in terms of First-Aid treatment as well.”

Lenz said their department will assist in determining the cause.

One air ambulance landed near the marina, while the other dropped down at the Bowser Elementary School field, Lenz stated.

In his 34 years with DPVFD, Lenz estimates recalling only three incidents of possible fires at Deep Bay Marina.

“Most of the calls we get down there are medical issues. It’s not normal to have something of this nature fall into our lap,” Lenz said.

Aerial view of Deep Bay and the adjoining marina. (Chris Burger)

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