Thi Cam Nhung Lê said Sébastien Gauthier, 41, was celebrating the holidays with his family when the explosion occurred in Fort Lauderdale. She said Mr. Gauthier's older sister was also on the boat when it caught fire, and she was taken to hospital.
Lê said Gauthier's older sister was also on the boat in Broward County, Florida, when it exploded and she was taken to hospital.
“It’s unimaginable, incomprehensible,” Ms. Lê said on Saturday, adding that Sébastien Gauthier’s family and mutual friends informed her of his death.
Ms. Lê, 40, said she first met Mr. Gauthier in her early teens and that they grew up together in Quebec. She remembers him as a globetrotter who always had a smile on his face.
“He’s still my best friend. “He’s the one I always call if I need anything, but he’s no longer with us,” she added.
The last time the two friends saw each other in person was about two years ago, she said, but she sent her friend one last message on social media a few days before the explosion from Monday.
And on January 1st, her birthday, she would have expected a call from him, like every year.
“I am shocked, surprised and I feel a little regret,” she said. You regret not having seen him more often. I spent yesterday crying. You can’t believe your friend disappears overnight.”
Earlier this week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that Sébastien Gauthier died from his injuries in Broward County. The FWC said its preliminary investigation in Fort Lauderdale showed a 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines started, injuring all seven passengers on board.
A video posted on social media on Monday showed the ship engulfed in flames, with a thick column of black smoke rising into the sky.
However, Florida authorities did not provide The Canadian Press with further information on the investigation.
The search for an explanation also made Ms. Lê angry. As she mourns the loss of her longtime friend, she explained that she is still waiting for answers about what led to his unexpected death.
