UPDATE: Fire service issues advice after couple rescued from boat in Castleford

Firefighters from Castleford, Wakefield, Leeds, Brighouse and Rothwell were called to the River Calder in Castleford, near Methley Bridge, after a couple discovered a fire on their 15ft long pleasure craft. The couple, from Doncaster, spotted smoke coming from the engine compartment and found the fire at around 1.45pm.

The pair, and their dog, were forced to abandon the boat and jump into the water before being picked up by a passing narrow boat. The pair were both taken to hospital as the woman suffered burns to her arms and the man was suffering from smoke inhalation. The dog was unharmed but the boat was destroyed.

The brigade has issued boat safety advice, including making an emergency plan before setting off, checking the boat’s fuel, gas and electrical systems on a regular basis and fitting alarms and detectors. If a fire has broken out people should get off the boat and wait for the fire and rescue service.

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.

“Fire crews issued first aid to the couple before the arrival of paramedics. The area was quite close to a boatyard where people live on boats. We are going to go down and give advice and fit smoke alarms.

“Where people sleep on boats it is particularly important to have a smoke alarm on board.