Kilkeel RNLI were called out to the blaze on board a 40ft yacht in Northern Ireland
A 40ft yacht went up
in flames in the early hours of Sunday morning after a propane gas cylinder
exploded on board.
Kilkeel RNLI attended
the scene following reports of a yacht burning fiercely south east of Rostrevor
pier in Northern Ireland.
The yacht’s owners
were contacted and they confirmed that there were two gas cylinders aboard the
yacht, but no people.
Kilkeel lifeboat
reached the stricken vessel, which was ablaze from bow to stern, at around
2.30am.
As one of the propane
gas cylinders had already exploded, lifeboat crews and four fire fighters waited
for the fire to subside before extinguishing the rest of the flames.
The RNLI’s Gerry Smyth
said: “It was vital that the lifeboat crew, the fire fighters and the lifeboat
were kept out of danger whilst there was the possibility of the gas cylinders
exploding.
“The yacht was
extensively damaged and still afloat when we left the scene but importantly no
lives were lost.”
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