A fire broke out onboard a yacht in one of Cornwall’s harbours last night, leading to a sailor on a nearby boat jumping onboard to help.

Firefighters and a lifeboat crew were both called to the emergency at Newlyn harbour in Cornwall, after a 999 call was made at 6.30pm on Friday.

A fire had been reported involving a paraffin cooker on one of the yachts in the harbour, and a member of the public on a nearby yacht jumped onboard to help put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.

Falmouth Coastguard contacted a crew from Penzance Community Fire Station, with the inshore lifeboat also sent from RNLI Penlee.

A Penlee spokesperson said: “At 6.30pm on Friday 21st June the Penlee inshore lifeboat Mollie and Ivor Dent was tasked by Falmouth Coastguards to a fire on a yacht in Newlyn harbour.

“A couple on the yacht had been cooking with a paraffin cooker when it caught fire. A person from a nearby yacht jumped aboard to help the female off and returned to fight the fire with fire extinguishers.

“A crew from Penzance Community Fire Station were also tasked by Falmouth Coastguards and arrived quickly to deal with the incident.

“Although not directly involved the Mollie and Ivor Dent helmed by Will Treneer and two other volunteers stood by for the fire service.”

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Sam Ashworth and Natalie Pitman, from the Penlee crew, went on to help the paramedic providing care back in the lifeboat station.

The spokesperson added: “Those involved appeared a little shook up but otherwise unharmed, although some were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation checks.

“This was one of many incidents where a volunteer lifeboat crew were not required but had exerted their professionalism in support.”