A Saturday morning boat fire fueled apprehensions on social media as a large understand trail of smoke rose above Hilton Head. The good Samaritan braved the fire and saved stranded passengers.

Boat Fire Off the Hilton Head Coast

The serene Saturday morning of Hilton Head, South Carolina, was disrupted by a large column of smoke emanating from the water. Concerned residents promptly reported the incident on social media, setting off a thread of unanswered queries and cautious speculations. The smoke was tracked to a boat fire that reportedly began around 8 a.m., leading to the capsizing of the vessel, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard.

According to U.S. Coast Guard’s first-class Petty Officer, Ryan Dickinson, the 23-foot boat was approximately 3.5 miles off the coast when the fire outbreak occurred. The boat was eyed miles off Hilton Head Island, it’s trail of smoke being clearly visible from the shore. All three passengers aboard the ill-fated vessel were jolted into the ocean, wearing life jackets, to escape the aggressive flames choking their boat.

Timely Call to Action: Good Samaritan to the Rescue

A fortune-favouring coincidence placed a passing boater in the vicinity of the incident, who promptly responded to the SOS signal sent out by the boat’s stranded passengers using a personal beacon device. The Prompt Samaritan took the imperative upon himself, rescuing the stranded passengers from the icy claws of the ocean and handing them over to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office water rescue team.

Post-rescue, one of the passengers had to be taken to the hospital by the Hilton Head EMS crews for treating minor burns. As of Monday afternoon, updates on the health status of passengers were awaited, keeping their concerned kin and the wider community on the edges of their seats.

Investigation Underway, Cause of Fire Unknown

As per Dickinson, the fire caused the boat to irreversibly sink. The cause of the fire, however, is currently unknown, rendering the incident a perplexing mystery for the authorities and a subject of curious speculation among Hilton Head residents.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is actively investigating the boat fire. Vigorous efforts are underway to trace back the chain of events that led to this harrowing accident and put large-scale fears to rest.

While the incident culminated without any fatal casualties and the timely aid greatly averted a larger catastrophe, this unsettling occurrence has indeed highlighted the indispensable importance of observing safety measures and regulations while at sea.

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