Family thanks rescuers who saved their lives after Memorial Day boat explosion

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cassandra Rivera knows all about the importance of Boating Safety Week.

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Rivera was extremely grateful as she, her two young boys and her husband shook the hands of the first responders who saved their lives nearly a year ago.

“I never thought that we would be here today,” she said. “My little boys made it out, I still have my husband.”

Her two boys, 8-year-old Anthony and 6-year-old Kash, were aboard a boat when it burst into flames last Memorial Day weekend on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale.

The fireball was seen from shore as a total of 11 people were injured, including one person who later died as a result of their injuries.

“The last thing I think I heard is ‘I smell fuel, I smell fuel’ and a ball of fire just erupted on the boat,” Rivera said.

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The blast resulted in serious burns to both of her boys.

“We were told to plan multiple funerals for our children,” Rivera said.

But she also said the quick response from crews on the water, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and police that rushed the victims to area hospitals are why she and her family are still alive.

Kash said he now wants to follow in the footsteps of the superheroes who saved so many lives that day, including his very own.

Officials said fuel vapors are one of the biggest risks when boating and that when going through your checklist before heading out, if something doesn’t seem right, make sure to find the problem and get it fixed.

Rivera has written a children’s book, “When the Boat Met a Flame” which she said was a way for her to recover for her trauma.

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