Yacht crew shaken after boat fire in Newlyn harbour

A yacht crew was left shaken up after their paraffin cooker caught fire prompting an emergency services rescue. The couple were on board their boat in Newlyn harbour in West Cornwall when their cooker went up in flames.

A spokesperson for Penlee Lifeboat station which attended the incident after 6.30pm on Friday (June 21), said a yachtsman from a nearby boat jumped on board after seeing the fire and managed to help the female sailor off before returning on board to fight the flames with a couple of fire extinguishers.

A crew from Penzance Community Fire Station was also tasked by Falmouth Coastguards and arrived quickly to deal with the incident.

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The Penlee Lifeboat spokesperson said: "Although not directly involved the Mollie and Ivor Dent helmed by Will Treneer and two other volunteers stood by for the fire service. Sam, Ashworth and Natalie Pitman assisted the paramedic with their care at the lifeboat station.

"Those involved appeared a little shook up but otherwise unharmed although some were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation checks."

The spokesperson said this was one of many incidents where a volunteer lifeboat crew were not required but had exerted their professionalism in support.