‘There was nowhere to hide’ : Lava boat tour passengers recall molten rock hitting their boat

FILE - This photo provided by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources shows damage to the roof of a tour boat after an explosion sent lava flying through the roof off the Big Island of Hawaii, Monday, July 16, 2018, injuring at least 23 people. The lava came from the Kilauea volcano, which has been erupting from a rural residential area since early May. (Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP, File)
In this July 16, 2018, image taken from video provided by Will Bryan, the glow of lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano is seen through a plume of gas as it enters the ocean near Kapoho, Hawaii. Bryan, a paramedic who was on vacation in Hawaii when the accident happened, says both he and his girlfriend, Erin Walsh, suffered burns and cuts from the volcanic debris that hit the tour boat they were on. (Will Bryan via AP)
In this Monday, July 16, file photo, a police officer secures the tour boat "Hot Spot" for the arrival of inspectors in Hilo. An explosion caused by lava oozing into the ocean sent molten rock crashing through the roof of the boat, injuring 23 people. (John Burnett/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP, File)
In this July 16, image taken from video provided by Will Bryan, lava and debris, foreground and right, from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano explodes from the ocean, near Kapoho. Bryan and his girlfriend suffered burns and cuts from the volcanic debris. (Will Bryan via AP)
In this July 16 image taken from video provided by Will Bryan, tourists watch as lava from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano enters the ocean near Kapoho. Bryan, a paramedic who was on vacation in Hawaii when the accident happened, says both he and his girlfriend, Erin Walsh, suffered burns and cuts from the volcanic debris. (Will Bryan via AP)

HONOLULU — A passenger on a tour boat that was hit by lava off the Big Island last week shielded his girlfriend and said he was waiting for death as searing debris ripped through the catamaran’s roof.