Boat fire skipper 'lucky to be alive'

The Newhaven Lifeboat joined a dive boat and local trawler at 11.30am to help skipper Anthony Kilby who had jumped in to the water as soon as he realised the fire was out of control.

The Solent Coastguard helicopter and Eastbourne Lifeboat were also scrambled to the blaze a mile south of Birling Gap.

Mr Kilby, from Eastbourne, was rescued by the dive boat while the trawler used firefighting equipment to tackle the blaze.

The boat, called Bubbles, sunk quickly in 25-metres of water.

Newhaven Duty coxswain Paul Legendre said: 'He is lucky to be alive and although shaken he sustained no other injuries.'

Mr Kilby was taken back to Newhaven Harbour at 1pm by the lifeboat.

It is not known what caused the blaze.