PEORIA, AZ (CBS5) -
A Valley teenager is sharing his story of survival tonight after the boat he was on exploded at Lake Pleasant yesterday.
Doctors say the teen who suffered pretty severe burns is lucky to be alive.
Jonathan Rivera, 17, says he looks worse than he feels. Rivera is also the nephew of Phoenix City Councilman Daniel Valenzuela.
"I feel great, I have some pain killers in me, I know it looks really bad, but I feel great," he said.
He has burns over 9 percent of his body and a few broken bones.
"I broke my nose actually, it doesn't feel like it at all. I got some severe burns on my arm, and I broke my left ankle. It really hurt," said Rivera.
He was airlifted to Maricopa Medical Center Monday afternoon after the boat he was on exploded.
"The last thing I remember, I was going to get some chicken in the cabin. The engine's down there. Something sparked it off and it blew up and it knocked me out to the balcony."
"You're in an explosion, it doesn't matter small or big, you're at big risk. This kid is lucky," said trauma surgeon Dr. Sydney Vail.
Rivera doesn't remember much, but he remembers his friend's brother throwing him into the lake to put out the flames.
"It may progress to a third-degree burn, right now it's a superficial and a deep second degree. But we watch these closely because burns progress and they progress over time," said Dr. Vail.
River is just glad everyone who was on that boat is OK.
"Apparently I got the worst of it, but I wouldn't have had it any other way because I care about all my friends. It's what I would have wanted," said Rivera.
Doctors say he might have to stay at the hospital for the next two weeks. A counselor will also help him deal with any psychological trauma he may have experienced.
It's not known what sparked the fire.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News for updates on this developing story.
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Lake Pleasant boat fire
Jonathan Rivera
