Chaos at sea as boat bursts into flames and sends thick plume of smoke into the air – as two men miraculously escape without injury
- Boat burns and sinks in Melbourne’s Port Phillip
- Two men had to be saved in dramatic rescue
A boat has burst into flames and sunk offshore with two men rescued after leaping from the burning vessel into the sea.
Flames broke out on board a nine metre cabin cruiser sailing at Port Phillip Bay, in Melbourne, just before midday on Wednesday.
Water Police Squad Inspector James Dalton said two men on board noticed smoke coming from the boat’s engine room.
A boat has burst into flames and sunk offshore from a popular Melbourne beach leading to the dramatic rescue of two men
Fire broke out on board a nine metre cabin cruiser sailing on Port Phillip, about a kilometre from Elwood Beach just before midday on Wednesday
They tried to put out the fire but the flames grew too strong prompting them to jump off the vessel.
Both men were picked up by a military vessel which was conducting a training drill on the bay.
They were in the water for only 15 minutes before they were eventually rescued and taken back to shore by Victoria Water Police and the Australian Border Force.
Ambulance Victoria was called to the scene and a helicopter was spotted hovering above the burning boat.
Paramedics assessed both men, neither of whom needed emergency treatment.
As the blaze took hold, thick black smoke billowed above Port Phillip and could be seen from a distance.
The boat was completely destroyed by the inferno and sank in the water.
Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed the boat was 3km from shore when attempts were made to put the fire out.
The men opted to jump in the water when the blaze couldn’t be put out and were picked up by the a military vessel which was conducting a training drill on the bay
‘Crews extinguished the blaze, but the boat had suffered a significant amount of damage, and eventually sank below the waterline,’ a spokesperson said.
The Coast Guard and Victoria Police were also called to the scene.
Dan told radio 3AW that the flames and black smoke were visible from shore about 12.10pm.
‘I can see huge flames coming out of it, it’s too far away to see any people but it’s a massive boat fire. You can see it from all aspects of the bay.’
