Two people dramatically rescued from a burning yacht off Wales beach

Two people are dramatically rescued from a burning yacht after it suddenly burst into flames next to a busy Wales beach

• Vessel erupted into flames off Caswell Bay and Brandy Cove in Swansea, Wales
• HM Coastguard rescued two people while the cause of inferno is not yet known
• A couple who live nearby filmed dramatic fire on their drone at around 1.30pm

Two people have been dramatically rescued from a burning yacht after it suddenly became engulfed by flames in front of shocked beachgoers in Wales. 

Locals raised the alarm at around 1pm on Saturday after seeing thick plumes of smoke billowing from the vessel, which had become ablaze off Caswell Bay and Brandy Cove, in Swansea. 

HM Coastguard confirmed that two people who were onboard the boat were rescued, while the cause of the inferno remains unknown. 

One couple who live nearby, Mark and Helen Rebecca Bowden, said that firefighters reached the beach at around 2.25pm. 

The couple used their drone to take dramatic aerial footage of the incident.  

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: ‘Two people have been safely rescued after their boat caught fire off Caswell Bay, in the Gower.

Locals raised the alarm at around 1pm after seeing thick plumes of smoke billowing from the vessel (pictured), which had become ablaze off Caswell Bay and Brandy Cove, in Swansea

‘HM Coastguard coordinated the response sending both Mumbles RNLI lifeboat and Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team along with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

‘The two people on board the 37 foot yacht were both rescued and taken ashore while the vessel itself has gone aground near to Brandy Cove and is still on fire.

‘Counter pollution officers at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been informed along with the local authority.’

Team Leader with HM Coastguard, Ieuan Williams, added: ‘This looked and was incredibly dramatic. The lifeboat did an incredible job of taking two people off a burning vessel.

‘We’re also very grateful to all those in the area on their own pleasure boats who used their VHF radios to alert us to what was happening and also stayed in the vicinity in case they were able to help.’

Lifeboat operations manager at RNLI Mumbles Station, Tim Conway, said both lifeboats were sent out at 12.32pm. 

He said: ‘Our in-shore lifeboat was already on its way to a broken-down boat, as they were approaching the bay they saw smoke – the helm approached and called the coastguard and asked for the all-weather boat to be sent out.

A £20million superyacht belonging to an Italian businessman worth £400million has been gutted by fire which broke out off the coast of a Spanish island

The Aria SF, owned by 62-year-old Paolo Scudieri, caught fire Thursday afternoon off the coast of Formentera, in the Mediterranean

‘The in-shore lifeboat took two people off the boat and cleared the beach. There were no injuries, people got off safely and they’re fine – but obviously a bit upset. 

‘They [lifeboat crews] then set up a screen to keep the shoreline clear.’

It comes just days after a £20million superyacht owned by a company boss worth more than £400million went up in flames off the coast of a Spanish island. 

The 150ft vessel Aria SF caught fire Thursday afternoon in Cala Saona, on the west coast of the Mediterranean isle of Formentera, just a month after being delivered to owner Paolo Scudieri.

Nine passengers and seven crew were on board at the time the fire broke out, and were also rescued unharmed by two Spanish coast guard vessels.  

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