Sailor Burned at Grand Marina

Alameda sailor Josh Sailer, 30, was badly burned aboard his Newport 28 at Grand Marina around 1 p.m. yesterday after an onboard explosion. According to a Chronicle report, the victim was a construction worker who had lived aboard the unnamed boat part time for the past two years. His brother, Jacob, believed the galley stove was the source of the explosion, but it’s unknown at this point if the stove was alcohol or propane.

As neighbors rushed to the boat to put out the fire, Sailer jumped overboard to extinguish himself. Though he suffered burns to 20% of his body, the worst of the damage was on his hands and knees. Grand Marina’s Mardy Valentine reported this morning that they just got word that his eyes and lungs were spared. The Alameda Fire Department is investigating the incident.