Dancer Loses Her Legs After Boat Explodes In Bahamas

A 22-year-old dancer has lost both her legs after a boat exploded in the Bahamas, leaving a woman dead.

Stefanie Schaffer is also believed to have suffered serious internal injuries in the blast on a tour boat.

Several others were injured in the incident shortly after 9am on Saturday, and a woman, whose identity has not been revealed, was killed.

Stefanie, an American from Rutland, Vermont, was on holiday with her mother, stepfather and sister.

A relative told DailyMail.com: ‘She’s in really critical care right now and in really serious shape. I know she has really bad internal injuries.’
She is in a coma and remains too unstable to be flown home.

Her mother Stacey reportedly shattered a leg and suffered various broken bones, while her sister Stacey and stepfather Paul Bender escaped with minor injuries.

Twelve people were on board the boat at the time of the blast off the island of Exuma – 10 Americans and two from the Bahamas.

The relative added: ‘The scary thing is Stefanie doesn’t know that she’s lost her legs, and that’s what really upsets me.

‘She’s going to wake up from this coma and realise “I don’t have any legs”. It’s breaking my heart.’

Stefanie’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for hers and her mother’s hospital bills.
Four injured tourists were flown to Florida for immediate treatment, and the family hopes Stefanie will soon follow suit.

Dramatic images show flames erupting from the boat and thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

The incident is under investigation.