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Updated: man nearly crushed by boat and car in Port Moody

Car submerged in water began to burn when it was towed out, Port Moody Fire Rescue says
car launch rocky point

The boat launch at Rocky Point was closed Wednesday, May 15, after a man’s white SUV launched with his boat.

In a video posted to social media, the man was in the boat when it, the trailer, and the vehicle started to roll into the water. He jumped out and appears to narrowly miss getting crushed by his own car.

Port Moody Fire and Rescue say that the man was taken to hospital with injuries to his lower body while firefighters donned suits and breathing equipment to deal with the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which burst into flames once it was towed out from under several feet of water.

"We heard an explosion," said Kirk Heaven, deputy fire chief.

Crews had been called in at about 6 p.m. that evening and didn't know exactly what to expect but, working with Port Moody police and the BC Ambulance Service, contained the scene, helped the man and doused the fire with water, Heaven said.

"There was concern about gasses coming off battery so we secured the scene with two different hose lines and the back up, then we removed the tow truck, let the vehicle burn, and made sure the vehicle was safe."

The boat and SUV weres subsequently towed to the Coquitlam yard under police escort because of concerns the vehicle might reignite, Heaven said.

The incident prompted Port Moody police and fire rescue to shut down the boat launch.

A man identified on Facebook as Josh Bishop posted a video of the events as they unfolded.