VINALHAVEN, Maine — December 16, 2014 — A father and son were forced to swim a few hundred yards to shore after a swiftly moving fire engulfed their vessel.
David Anthony and son Blake Anthony were resting Tuesday afternoon after the ordeal.
Vinalhaven Fire Chief Marc Candage said the two men were fortunate to have survived swimming a long distance in such cold waters. The water temperature was about 47 degrees on Tuesday, according to Maine Department of Marine Resources director of communications Jeff Nichols.
The fire chief said the Anthonys reported that the 25-foot lobster boat, called the Midnight Rider, had engine trouble earlier in the day but they believed they had repaired the problem. About an hour later, the two men heard a loud “poof” and then fire quickly spread. The fire moved so quickly that they were unable to get to the fire extinguisher or the survival suits.
Read the full story form the Bangor Daily News