Men jump for their lives after luxury fishing boat bursts into flames

Four men were forced to jump for their lives on Tuesday after their luxury fishing boat burst into flames at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.

People on passing ferries and on shore watched in amazement as the cruiser burned furiously after the men spent the day fishing off Sydney Heads.

The 10-metre luxury cruiser caught fire around 1pm.

It’s thought the fire started after an electrical fault, destroying the boat with an estimated value of up to $60,000.

The four men, three in their forties and one aged 67, jumped overboard and were collected by a passing boat.

“As soon as they saw there was a problem, they’ve done everything right,” Roger Weeks from NSW Maritime Services said.

“They’ve called for assistance, they’ve put their life jackets on and as soon as they’ve seen that the fire’s taken hold they’ve jumped overboard.

“This could have been a different outcome if those people didn’t have life jackets.”

Police and Maritime Services boats were quickly on the scene and an emergency response craft from the New South Wales Port Authority doused the flames with a high-pressure jet.

Just two hours after the blaze first broke out, the fire was out and the boat almost gone.

Despite their ordeal, the crew escaped without injury.

NSW Maritime Services will now liaise with the boat owner about recovering what’s left of the vessel.