A tragic incident during New York’s Fleet Week has resulted in the death of a worker following a boat explosion on the Hudson River this past Saturday.
BREAKING: Coast Guard responding to reported explosion near North River Wastewater Treatment Plant around 10:30 a.m. Incident reportedly linked to hot work aboard a docked boat. CG Station New York on scene assisting FDNY. Investigation pends.
— USCG_Tri_State (@USCG_Tri_State) May 24, 2025
A 59-year-old welder was tragically thrown into the river as a result of a small explosion aboard a barge.
Reports from the Daily Mail indicate that the explosion was attributed to methane igniting due to a welding error.
The Daily Mail reported:
A worker lost his life after being propelled into the Hudson River due to an explosion on a barge.
The explosion occurred at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, located near West 138th Street in Manhattan, around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
This seemingly minor explosion is believed to have been triggered by methane igniting during a welding ‘malfunction’ on the vessel, although it did not ignite a larger fire.
The victim, a 59-year-old man engaged in welding work on the barge’s hull at the time, succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident, as reported by officials.
Rescue teams quickly arrived on the scene to retrieve him after he was thrown overboard and found trapped between the boat and the dock.
It remains unclear whether his death was directly caused by the explosion itself or by the subsequent impact of being thrown into the water.
Developing…
