Nine Rescued from Yacht Fire near Shetland

 

According to a BBC report, nine people have been rescued after a yacht caught fire off Shetland. Coastguards were alerted to the incident, about 50 miles south west of Shetland, at about 09:20.

 

Dramatic video footage, filmed from a coastguard helicopter, showed the blaze taking hold on board the stricken boat.

 

But appropriately, given the name of their ship, the sailors miraculously emerged unscathed from the inferno.

 

All nine on board the unnamed yacht had abandoned the vessel and were picked up from their liferaft by an oil support vessel. It was then heading to Scalloway Harbour.

 

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that all nine people on The Miracle “have been safely accounted for after the support vessel picked them up from a life raft after they abandoned their sailing vessel.” 

 

The British Red Cross said it was on hand to help the crew.