Hamble Lifeboat jumps to the rescue after fire breaks out on yacht in Solent

Hamble Lifeboat were sent out by UK Coastguard following reports that a 27-foot yacht had got into trouble 500m from the shore off Hill Head.

Four crew members got on board and towed the vessel to safety at Warsash, where the fire brigade and Hill Head coastguard were waiting to help.

The three people on the yacht were on a training exercise when the fire started around 8pm. They were unharmed.

Hamble Lifeboat coxswain Liam Dobbin said: ‘We were tasked by UK Coastguard to have a look at what had happened. We can only assess but we had thermal cameras to enable us to have a look.

‘We got on board, where there was some smoke and an electrical smell.

‘As soon as the crew realised there was an electrical fire, they switched off all electrics on board.

‘The Coastguard advised them to drop anchor and wait for assistance.’