Author: Admin

Club cruise details in events

New signal for July added to members pages

Latest update found under Notice Board

We need your help to make the regatta successful. Please let the Commodore know if you can help run a stall, cook food, set up etc on the day or complete form below.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to attend an explosion aboard a boat in Bourne End Marina on Tuesday 18th June around 11:44am. Six engines and their crews arrived on the scene and found two boats “100 per cent on fire” and brought two men to safety before passing them into the care of the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), one with serious burns and the other with minor injuries.

Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus, two hose reels and an environmental kit to help tackle the blaze, which was at its peak shortly before 12pm when emergency services arrived at the scene. 

A 16-year-old girl has been praised for her response to a boat explosion at the marina where she works. Olivia, from Maidenhead, ran to the aid of two men on board the boat when it exploded while docked in Bourne End Marina, Buckinghamshire.

One of the men on board, 80-year-old Kevin Healy, from Sheffield, said she had been “exceedingly brave”. “We got away with our lives and Olivia was very much part of that,” he said.

Mr Healy said he and a friend were planning to cruise up to Marlow on Tuesday 18 June, and refuelled the boat in the standard way. “Upon turning the key the engine turned over… and within about two seconds of that there was an absolutely total violent explosion with an immediate fire,” he said.

Mr Healy managed to get clear by himself but his friend was blown backwards and Olivia, who was cleaning a nearby boat, “very gallantly and without any regard of her own safety” came running to help. She later brought a cold flannel for Mr Healy’s friend to put on his burns. “That was so kind,” said Mr Healy. 

Olivia, who works part-time at the marina, said she had her headphones on at the time of the blast, “which is quite lucky”. “One man was already off the boat and I helped the other man out of the boat,” she said. “I acted on instinct, I think everyone would have done it.”

But Mr Healy disagreed, saying “a lot of people would have just run away. She was exceedingly brave to come immediately without any regard for her own personal safety to help me and the others.” 

Both men are now recovering from their injuries. The boat that exploded was a Chris Craft Corsair 25, which can be worth up to £120,000. The fire also spread to a neighbouring boat, thought to be worth around £40,000. 

Thames Valley Police said they had investigated the incident but that “the evidence found indicates this was an accident”.

source: BBC News

Please share your useful info, tips, etc so these can be added to the website members page. We are looking for suppliers details for things like canopies, window repairs, upholstery, GRP repair, marine engineers etc. Plus anything you think we should share with new members. Send to Webmaster@leeandstortcruisingclub.org.uk

I wish I had known that when I joined the club!

See events page for more details