One man was taken to hospital with severe burns and another treated for smoke inhalation after a fire at Brighton Marina which led to the sinking of two boats.
It is reported that both men are making good progress. The fire was reported in a 999 call to Solent Coastguard on Saturday evening.
Coastguard rescue teams from Brighton, Newhaven and Shoreham were sent to the scene and the Brighton inshore lifeboat and yankee boat and the Shoreham all weather lifeboat went to the marina.
They found that the fire had spread to the neighbouring vessel. The Coastguard teams, lifeboat teams and fire service worked together fighting the fire and evacuating the adjacent pontoons. Unfortunately the fire had a good hold on both vessels and neither could be saved. Both have now sunk.
Oil containment booms and absorbent pads have been deployed to contain the fuel oil that is surfacing from them.
David Williams, Watch Manager at Solent Coastguard said: “It was important to ensure the safety of people nearby as well as putting out the fires and preventing their further spread within the marina. The crews of all the teams on scene worked well together in minimising the impact of the incident and we have fortunately been able to move from a search and rescue response to a counter pollution response quickly.
”The intention is now for the marina's contractors to take over the counter pollution response as the situation has stabilized, enabling us to withdraw the Coastguard rescue teams and lifeboats.”
For more information visit www.mcga.gov.uk
