Five Brit tourists are rescued from their burning 21ft motor boat with one suffering burns as vessel explodes in a fireball off Greek holiday island

Five Brit tourists are rescued from their burning 21ft motor boat with one suffering burns as vessel explodes in a fireball off Greek holiday island

  • It is unclear what sparked the fire but the vessel was quickly overcome by blaze
  • All five passengers were forced to bail out before being rescued by passing ship

Five British tourists were rescued from their motorboat that erupted in flames while sailing off the coast of the Greek island of Zakynthos. 

One of the passengers reportedly suffered burns when the craft caught fire some 250 feet from shore.

It is unclear what triggered the blaze, but the flames quickly engulfed the craft, forcing the crew to bail out before the vessel was completely overcome by the inferno.

Fortunately, another boat noticed the crew were in distress and sailed to the rescue, helping the Brits clamber aboard before returning them to shore for medical treatment.

The sinking remains of the ship can be seen trailing smoke and flames after the crew bailed out

It is unclear what triggered the blaze, but the flames quickly engulfed the craft, forcing the crew to bail out before the vessel was completely overcome by the inferno

It is unclear what triggered the blaze, but the flames quickly engulfed the craft, forcing the crew to bail out before the vessel was completely overcome by the inferno

Parts of the boat still on fire washed ashore and were eventually extinguished by the waves

Parts of the boat still on fire washed ashore and were eventually extinguished by the waves

Five British tourists were rescued from their motorboat that erupted in flames while sailing off the coast of the Greek island of Zakynthos

Five British tourists were rescued from their motorboat that erupted in flames while sailing off the coast of the Greek island of Zakynthos 

Their narrow escape comes just weeks after a 19-year-old British man was killed on the island in a horrendous quadbike crash.

The tragedy happened in the village of Mesos Gerakari last month when the quadbike reportedly made a sudden deviation from its course, causing fatal injuries to the teenager.

It is unclear whether the teen rider made a poor steering input or whether the bike suffered a mechanical problem, but the man was vaulted off the vehicle and subsequently crushed underneath it. 

Another 19-year-old passenger was involved in the accident but only suffered minor bruises. 

Both were wearing helmets, ERT Zakynthos reported, and were said to be moving at a slow speed.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and the stricken driver was taken to Zakynthos hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation is now being carried out by police to determine the events that led to the death.

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