Father of four dies after Memorial Day boat explosion off Fort Lauderdale
A father of four died from his injuries after a boat exploded off Fort Lauderdale on Memorial Day, the man’s loved ones announced in a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Joshua Fifi, a 29-year-old who lived Fort Lauderdale, was identified as the man who died after the blast, according to the fundraiser page. The fundraiser, organized by Hannah Galindo, said Fifi’s “sudden passing has left his family, friends, and community in shock and grief.”
Fifi’s family hopes to raise $11,000 to cover Fifi’s funeral and support his four children.
“Joshua was just beginning a new chapter in life,” the page said. “He was known for his sense of humor, his easygoing spirit, and the way he could make people laugh even on the hardest days. He was someone people could count on, and now, we’re coming together to support him one last time.”
READ MORE: Boat explodes off the beach in Fort Lauderdale, fire-rescue says
Fifi was one of the 14 people on board of a 39-foot Sea Ray that burst into flames on Memorial Day in the Intracoastal Waterway, near the large sandbar by the New River. Eleven people — including two young children — were hospitalized with injuries. Some were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s burn unit in Miami, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said.
Fire officials say the blast was likely caused by fuel vapors that ignited a flash fire when the boat was started. The source of the vapors and ignition is under investigation.
READ MORE: Two boats exploded off Fort Lauderdale within 5 months. Tips to avoid a similar fate
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 10:40 AM.
