Lake Macquarie yacht catches fire and sinks

A 30-foot yacht burst into flames and sank at Lake Macquarie on Monday night, forcing the sole occupant to leap overboard and swim to safety. The fire was reported just before 9 p.m. near Vales Point at Wyee Bay.

A multi-agency emergency response involving Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service, and Marine Rescue NSW attended the scene. The lone crew member escaped serious injury and was met by paramedics after reaching the shore.

The vessel was destroyed by the fire and subsequently sank in approximately 4.5 metres of water, leaving only the mast visible by Tuesday morning. Hazardous materials units deployed booms around the wreck to mitigate potential fuel leakage.