Men dive to safety as boat explodes

The men were picked up by a passing fishing vessel

Three fishermen had to dive into the sea to survive an explosion on their boat.

The crew of the fishing vessel the Silver Eel had been fishing for clams in the Wareham Channel, near Poole, Dorset, at 0836 GMT on Monday when their outboard engine caught fire.

The flames ignited the petrol on board, causing a loud explosion.

As their 30-feet boat was engulfed in flames the men jumped into the water - they were rescued by another fishing vessel.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: "The boat went up when the petrol caught fire and the crew had no option but to jump into the water.

"They had a lucky escape and they were picked up cold and wet but otherwise okay.

"The fire on the boat burnt itself out and it was towed back to shore."