Cause of explosion investigated

DENVER, N.C. -- An 80-foot boat is ready to leave the Westport Marina so officials can get a closer look to try to determine what caused a massive explosion, which killed a 19-year-old marina worker.

Lincoln County’s fire marshal Mike Futrell said, “We want to find out what happened so we can prevent it from ever happening again.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the Championship II house boat returned from a graduation party. Nate Coppick was refueling the boat when it exploded. A recovery team found the North Carolina State University student’s body on Wednesday.

Futrell say fuel vapors were probably ignited by a spark, but exactly where the spark and vapors came from are not known, said Futrell.

Nate Coppick

A massive crane that pulled the boat out of the water in two parts is now gone, as the charred boat sits alone on the dock ready to be towed up the road to a gravel area where a number of agencies will get the chance to inspect the vessel.

Both the insurance company from the marina and the boat’s insurance company, along with the Lincoln County Fire Department, the sheriff’s department and Fish and Wildlife officials will inspect the Championship II.

Futrell said the investigation will also include surveillance video from Westport marina.

CCI, an environmental company, is handling the cleanup of the cove.

“They hope to be finished by later today, or early tomorrow,” said Futrell.