Pinecraft Teenager Suffers Serious Burns

A Pinecraft teenager is being treated for serious burns today after a flash fire Friday evening while working on a WaveRunner.

David Beiler, 18, suffered 2nd-degree and 3rd-degree burns on both arms and his face when his screwdriver touched an electrical component of the WaveRunner causing a flash fire that also burned the forehead, cinged the beard, hair and eyebrows of retired bishop Lester Gingrich who was helping Beiler work on his WaveRunner, according to Sherry Gore, scribe of Amish and Mennonite newspaper The Budget.  

"He's a very well-liked boy," she said of Beiler, who attends Sunnyside Mennonite Church.

Another teenager helping with work, T.J. Yoder, was uninjured, Gore said.

Beiler was flown via Bayflight to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg after 10 p.m. Friday and was moved to the Tampa General Hospital's Regional Burn Center where he's receiving treatment and is on life support.

"He has very significant burns to his face and both arms," Gore said. Gore's son was with Beiler earlier Friday riding on WaveRunners in they bay before they called it a day when they ran into some mechanical issues.

No damage was done to the building at 1015 Honore Ave, according to Capt. Susan Pearson, spokeswoman for the Sarasota County Emergency Services.

Beiler is an employee at Plycrete Pumping, Gore said, and between the medical bills and being out of work, the family will need assistance.

This story has been updated.