A surviving crew member who broke his leg on the Conception dive boat trying to save trapped passengers is filing a lawsuit against the owner of the Truth Aquatics and dive charter company Worldwide Diving Adventures.
According to Pacific Coast Business Times, Ryan Sims said he was asleep on the top deck when he woke up to loud noises. He said the fire trapped him and the other crew members, forcing him to jump from the top deck. Sims fractured his leg in three places and sustained other injuries that required extensive medical treatment.
Sims says Truth Aquatics didn't properly maintain the vessel or adequately train its employees on safety equipment and rules.
The company says it took reasonable care to ensure the boat was properly manned, equipped and maintained.
Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the boat fire that killed 34 people this past labor day off the coast of Santa Barbara.
