Boat destroyed after catching fire on River Itchen

The ship caught fire at American Wharf near Ocean Village just before 7am on Sunday.

The flames, fanned by the strong winds of Storm Kathleen, were brought under control by firefighters after worried neighbours raised the alarm.

The charred remains of the boat have now been lifted from the water.

It happened just a stone’s throw from the warehouse next door to St Mary’s Stadium that caught fire a month ago, leading to a large plume of smoke towering over the city and causing the cancellation of a Saints match.

Cifrelle Rojas, who lives in nearby Elm Quay, was one of the first to notice the fire, as she sat at her dining table drinking a hot chocolate.

READ MORE: Live updates as thousands descened on city centre for Southampton Marathon

“It started at about 6.44am, I noticed something, it was just a small flame,” she told the Echo, adding that some owners sleep in their boats, and she was worried someone may have been inside and that the fire would grow out of control before they were able to do anything.

The charred remains of a boat after it caught fire on the River Itchen on Sunday (Image: Submitted)

“Just a minute after, it grew bigger and I was looking at it, I was thinking that they might not have seen it,” the nurse said.

“I called 999 to report it, I was not sure if I was the first one to see, but I didn’t see anyone from the marina.

“It grew bigger and bigger,” she said, adding the windy conditions helped fan the flames.

When firefighters arrived, Cifrelle said it took them time to attach their hoses and bring the blaze under control, but that it appeared no one had been on the boat at the time.

Two fire engines were called to the scene and two firefighters battled the blaze, taking water from the river, the 36-year-old said.

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I was impressed to see the firefighters navigate their way out to the boat to fight the fire as it’s right out in the middle of the marina and they kept it well isolated.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "At around 6.30am this morning (Sunday 7 April) crews from St Mary’s attended a fire that had broken out on a private yacht in Southampton.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used 2 jets and a fog spike to extinguish the fire. The stop message came in just after 8.30am."