Owner burnt, boat sinks after it caught fire at Whitsundays

A WHITSUNDAY businessman is in hospital in Brisbane after being seriously burnt in a fire on a boat near Shute Harbour.

David Andersen, 30, received burns to 80% of his body in the blaze.

Emergency services were called to Shute Harbour about 8am yesterday.

A Whitsunday Water Police spokesman said Mr Andersen, believed to the owner of the 12m motor boat, had jumped from the boat and been rescued by another boat from Hamilton Island.

He said it was believed the boat had been about to head to Long Island when the fire broke out.

A Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said one crew, assisted by water police, attended the fire.

She said the fire was under control by 9am and the boat was towed back to land.

However, Acting Sergeant Simon Walter from Whitsunday police said the boat had sunk while being towed.

The cause of the fire was not known.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the injured man was taken to the Proserpine Hospital.

Police said the man had since been transferred to Brisbane.

Mr Andersen is the father of two boys.

Mr Andersen’s wife, Simone, works at Air Whitsunday, which has set up a special bank account to which residents can donate to help cover the family’s medical costs and expenses.

Money can be put into Commonwealth Bank account number 23553536. The BSB number is 062692.