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70-Year Old Rescued After Boat Explosion Off Fort Myers

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FORT MYERS (CBSMiami) -- U.S. Coast Guard crews saved a 70-year old man after a sailboat explosion in Back Bay overnight.

Just before 2 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard responded to reports a sailboat exploded with a man on board.

At some point, the sailboat had come free from its mooring and caught another sailboat on fire behind a Fort Myers restaurant called Salty Sam's.

Coast Guard rescues man after sailboat explosion
Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Cravens, a crew member aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach, Florida, responds to a sailboat explosion in Back Bay, Florida, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. The sailboat came free from its mooring and caught another sailboat on fire. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Kerry Doris)

When crews arrived, they rescued the 70-year old man who had minor burns. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment while crews worked to put out the blaze.

They were able to put out the fire on both sailboats.

Lee County Sheriff's Office is trying to find out what caused the explosion.

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