Boat sinks following huge fire in Solent
Two people had to be rescued from the burning vessel
Two people have been rescued from a boat which caught fire in the Solent and later sank.
Coastguard and lifeboat teams from across the South came to the aid of the boat after being called out to an area outside Portsmouth Harbour at 3.22pm on Sunday (June 19th).
The crew on board declared a mayday at that time, with lifeboats from Gosport and Bembridge called to the scene as the flames started to take hold.
Two nearby yachts had also responded to the call and were standing by, but could not get close enough due the sea state and plumes of smoke.
Gosport lifeboat were able to bring both people into their boat and then started to tow the vessel out of the busy shipping channel and into shallower waters.
Shortly after the tow commenced, flames from the engine room completely engulfed the cabin so Gosport Lifeboat crew deployed an anchor, with assistance from Bembridge RNLI Lifeboat, to prevent the vessel from drifting and becoming a greater hazard.
Bembridge RNLI Lifeboat, took the casualties into the warmth of their cabin and returned them to Chichester Harbour, where the vessel had been based. Meanwhile Gosport Lifeboat remained on-scene to keep inquisitive passing vessels at a safe distance as flares and gas cylinders on board had started to explode.
Duty Coxswain Pete Byford from Gosport Lifeboat said:
"Thankfully we were on duty with the Lifeboat today and out training as it was only a matter of minutes from our arrival until the vessel was completely engulfed in flames.
"The crew on board the vessel had done everything they should: immediately calling for help, wearing their PPE equipment and being ready for the Lifeboat to arrive.’"
The duty fire tug, SD Independent, was tasked to come from Portsmouth Harbour to fight the fire with its powerful firefighting apparatus. Unfortunately, with flames completely engulfing the vessel, it was unable to be saved and sank shortly afterwards.
Gosport Lifeboat then assisted the tug in retrieving the fuel tanks, which had been carrying 1800 litres of diesel and other debris from the sunken vessel to minimise any environmental damage.