A Louisiana man severely burned more than three-quarters of his face after a horrible boat explosion during a popular annual boating event.
Devear’Dee’Tureaud, a 53-year-old father of two, suffered extensive burns on his face – including ears – and arms from the elbow to the fingers when his ship burst out in flames.
The explosion took place on the weekend of May 3 at Tickfaw 200, and each year the famous “Three-day Power Boat Poker Run” was held on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish.
Tureaud was working with three other men to repair the vessels – Dylan Fabre, Gage Wilcoxson and Seth Camallo at the time of the disaster.
“This is not your normal reverse,” Fabre explained wbrz. “To some extent, fuel or something gets very overweight in the process and whenever it backfires, it turns into a bomb.”
According to Fabre, the 28-foot ship has recently recovered with a new electric motor but began to malfunction on Friday, May 2.
The next day, the team took it out to replace some parts and run it again.
“I was next to the motor, so I went out and said, “Dylan, start turning it around,” Fabre recalls withkiran.com not filtered.
Depear’s “Dee” Tureaud suffered a huge burn, including his ears, his arms from elbow to fingers, and suddenly burst into flames when he worked on the boat
The explosion (pictured) took place on the weekend of May 3 at Tickfaw 200, a famous three-day powerboat poker run held on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish every year
They managed to start the motor, but died quickly.
“It died from us, and he began to adjust a little. I turned around and he told me to hit it again. Once I turned it over, it exploded.
A spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said the initial explosion occurred around 9 p.m. and initially produced relatively small flames.
Fabre said he was able to untie the ship from the dock with the help of his friends and push it into the water as the fire intensified and reminded the local fire department.
All four were burned by heat and flames, but Tureaud, who stood upright on the engine, suffered the worst injuries.
“He has first, second and third degree burns,” said his fiancé Eleshia Coats. “If he didn’t wear a shirt when the explosion, his chest would also be burned.”
Tureaud has undergone multiple surgeries since his admission and is facing weeks of continuous treatment. Outerclothes said they expect he will stay at the Bourne Center in New Orleans for at least a week.
Despite the trauma, Tureaud is grateful. “I’m glad no one was injured,” he told WBRZ.
Fabre said he was able to untie the ship from the dock with the help of his friends and push it into the water as the fire intensified, and they alerted the local fire department.
Now facing a long and painful recovery, Tureaud has long supported his fiance and two children (pictured) – Will not be able to work for the foreseeable future
Tureaud has undergone multiple surgeries since his admission and is facing weeks of continuous treatment. His fiancé Eleshia Coats (pictured with Tureaud and Kids) said they hope he will stay at the Bourne Center in New Orleans for at least a week
Now facing a long and painful recovery, Tureaud, who has long supported his fiancé and two children, will not be able to work for the foreseeable future.
“My arm is finished [with skin grafts] They are waiting for my face to finish what they are going to do and tomorrow, I think they will do the job. ” he said.
To help pay for more and more medical expenses, friends and family launched GoFundMe The campaign has raised nearly $12,000 of its nearly $20,000 target.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, although official details remain limited.
