Brand new Meridian 341 catches fire off Calshot Spit; two men taken to hospital
Two men were rescued yesterday after a brand new Meridian 341 motorboat caught fire off Calshot Spit in the Solent.
The pair had just taken delivery of the vessel, and were on their way to Rye in Sussex.
Once out into Southampton Water, the driver opened the boat up and soon after noticed smoke coming from the exhaust and a burning smell.
Shortly afterwards, the boat burst into flames, according to the RNLI. It is not known at present what caused the fire.
The two men managed to launch the liferaft and were picked up soon after by the Calshot lifeboat.
Both suffered minor injuries in the blaze and were transported to Southampton General Hospital.
Credit: RNLI/Calshot; Inset: a Meridian 341
