‘I didn’t think I’d be here.’ Burn victim speaks out after Mamaroneck boat fire
Willy Nye, 58, said he was helping a friend remove water from a boat's fuel system when the accident happened. Nye says he and his friend were purging the boat of water because water had gotten into the gas system.
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A Larchmont man is sharing his story of survival one week after a boat fire in Mamaroneck left him with serious burn injuries.
Willy Nye, 58, said he was helping a friend remove water from a boat's fuel system when the accident happened. Nye says he and his friend were purging the boat of water because water had gotten into the gas system.
"Sucked out like 20 gallons of water and we were trying to start it using ether and it backfired and poof, flames shot out," Nye recalled.
Nye was able to jump off the boat and escape the flames, but he suffered burns across nearly 30% of his body, including second-degree burns on his legs and arms and first-degree burns on his head.
His wife, Debbie, and daughter, Nicole, have remained by his side throughout his recovery. They say the uncertainty surrounding his condition has been one of the most difficult parts of the experience, but they are encouraged by the improvements they see each day.
Nye hopes his experience serves as a reminder for others who work on boats to always think about safety and have an exit plan in case something goes wrong.
"I've had boats backfire, I've had boats catch on little fires, and I've always, you put yourself where you could get out," he said. "You don't put yourself right in the middle because you don't think it's going to happen."
Nye faces a lengthy recovery as he continues treatment for his injuries. A GoFundMe page was created to help with Nye's recovery.
News 12 reached out to police to see if there was an update, we were told there's nothing additional to report.
