Exploding gas canister destroys yacht - two escape

10:28 AM Sun 8 Mar 2009 GMT
A gas canister which exploded, shooting flames into the air, caused a luxury yacht to burst into flames in the Solent in the United Kingdom this week. The two sailors on board had an amazing escape.

The evening drama happened off Browndown Point at the western end of Stokes Bay, near Gosport on the southern coast of England.

Police launches and the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service lifeboat were scrambled to the area at about 4.30pm.

Two men, who were believed to be in their forties and from the Isle of Wight, were on board the 34 feet Sealine craft. They were transferred to the mainland by police launch. They were not hurt but rather shaken by the ordeal.

The lifeboat ferried firefighters to the scene. But the fire had escalated to such an extent that a 200 metre exclusion zone was thrown around the ?200,000 boat.

A gas canister had exploded shooting flames into the air and there were fears that more canisters would erupt.

A lifeboat spokesperson said: 'The boat was well alight and there was lots of smoke billowing from the cabin area and the stern of the vessel.'

By about 7pm the yacht was sinking into the sea about half a mile off the beach.

by Duncan Eaton, Hampshire Chronicle/Sail-World

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Exploding gas canister destroys yacht - two escape

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