Sunday, February 1, 2015

MAN JUMPS OFF BURNING SAILBOAT NEAR QUEENSLAND'S GOLD COAST



 

MAN JUMPS OFF BURNING SAILBOAT NEAR QUEENSLAND'S GOLD COAST


Sunday 1 Feb 2015

A man has jumped overboard from a burning boat after its engine caught fire in waters off the Gold Coast.

The fire started on the 40-foot boat just after 11:00am about 25 kilometres off Surfers Paradise.

The man, in his 50s, suffered burns to his hands, face and legs before being forced to jump into the water.

He was rescued by a nearby boat and taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services officer Neil Dover said the vessel was gutted.

"They contacted Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and we responded with crews with VMR Queensland we then extinguished the fire and the boat sank in its location off shore," he said.