Man swims to shore, boat sinks in fire off Portarlington

A man swam to shore after a boat caught fire off Portarlington on Saturday morning.

A boat caught fire and sank near the Portarlington Pier. Picture: Alan Barber

A man swam to safety after a boat caught fire off Portarlington on Saturday morning.

It is understood the 25-foot motorboat caught fire in the harbour area near the Portarlington Pier about 4.30am and then sank.

On Saturday, a Parks Victoria spokesman said the authority was onsite undertaking a salvage process to retrieve the vessel, which was expected to be completed later that day.

A Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) spokeswoman said emergency services were called to Portarlington Pier following reports to triple-0 of someone calling for help from a boat about 300m offshore.

“The boat was visibly smoking, and callers said they had heard an explosion,” she said.

“The Coast Guard and Victoria Police attended to assist the man, who jumped from the burning vessel.”

The fire is believed to have occurred in this area. Picture: Mark Wilson

The man swam to the shore for safety and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedics treated the man, aged in his 40s, for upper body burns and transported him to Geelong hospital in a stable condition, Ambulance Victoria said.

Fire Rescue Victoria attended to extinguish the blaze, which was burning towards the waterline.

“Once extinguished, crews checked the boat for any salvageable or hazardous material and handed the scene to Parks Victoria,” the FRV spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Man swims to shore, boat sinks in fire off Portarlington