On Friday afternoon, the commercial fisherman Stian Kristensen had been out pulling in today’s turbot catch. He had almost come back to the marina and marina at Valle in Bamble, when he heard a huge bang next to his boat.
– I jumped and did not understand what it was right away, until I saw the flames stand to verse, Kristensen says to TV 2.
An older plastic boat with two men on board exploded, just a few meters from Stian’s boat.
– I shouted to them that they had to jump into the sea, as I was afraid it would explode several times, says the 41-year-old.
Rescued from burning boat
The main rescue center sounded the full alarm and sent both a fire boat, lifeboat and coast guard ship. But it was the local heroes who did most of the rescue work.
The one man who jumped into the sea swam to Stian’s boat. While the other was rescued in than another boat that arrived.
– The man I rescued was obviously shocked and outside. I tried to help him, at the same time as I also had to focus on the burning boat, says Kristensen.
The boat that was on fire had just received 120 liters of petrol in the tank, so the flames licked violently up against the blue sky.
– I tried to put out the fire, but quickly realized that I had no chance, says the professional fisherman.
Course straight towards the marina
He barely had time to think that thought out completely, until he got other things to focus on. For the burning boat was heading towards the marina – where large amounts of fuel are stored.
Kristensen feared a huge explosion, if the burning boat hit the marina. He had to act fast.
– I was able to throw the dredge on board the burning boat and tow it slowly but surely away from the marina. Then I could finally breathe a sigh of relief, says the energetic fisherman.
Here the burning boat is towed
After being at sea along the coast in Bamble for 20 years, he has never been involved in anything like Friday.
– I have never encountered anything so dramatic at sea before, ever, says Kristensen.
– Had my heart in my throat
General manager Bernt Espen Andersen at Sjøbua Marina in Valle is also happy that Stian was nearby and saved his marina.
– The burning boat was heading straight for our propane stock with a couple of hundred liters. So I had my heart in my throat, while Stian was working, says Andersen.
He is eternally grateful that there are such energetic people in the immediate area.
– Stian is today’s hero and saved the entire marina, says Andersen.
The two men, who had to jump to sea, were clearly affected by the boat fire, but were not physically injured.
What is the cause of the fire is not yet known.
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