One woman died after a casino shuttle boat caught fire off Port Richey, Florida, and all 50 passengers on board jumped overboard into shallow water as fast-moving flames consumed the vessel. Only quick thinking by the boat’s captain prevented a worse disaster.
The fire started about 4 on Sunday afternoon after the 60-foot shuttle boat, the Sun Cruz, left Port Richey, carrying its complement of passengers 3.5 miles offshore to the Tropical Breeze Casino Cruise, operating in international waters. The shuttle was about 25 miles northwest of Tampa.
Shortly after the shuttle left the dock, the captain saw smoke coming from the engine room, and he turned the boat around. As the flames spread, he headed to shallow water, trying to beach the boat. Meanwhile, all 50 passengers jumped overboard into shallow water. Many were able to walk to shore; some were rescued by other boats. About 15 were treated at a local hospital for chest pains or smoke inhalation. The woman who died, a 42-year-old widow with two children, went home at first and then became ill; she went to the hospital that night and passed away later.
The Coast Guard said it would open an investigation into the entire situation.
Read more and see the video here:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-reg-casino-boat-fire-20180114-story.html
