Couple take to water to escape river boat fire

The couple, from Doncaster, were on the River Calder in Castleford when they noticed flames coming from the engine compartment.

After jumping into the water they were picked up by a passing narrowboat before firefighters arrived to put out the blaze, which destroyed the craft.

The woman sustained burns to her arm and her partner suffered smoke inhalation in the incident and both were taken to hospital. Watch Commander Granville Shaw, from Castleford fire station, said: “When we got there the whole boat was engulfed so they have had a lucky escape.

“The area was quite close to a boatyard where people live on boats. We are going to give advice and fit smoke alarms.”