KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 16 — Three in a family escaped a fiery end when their boat caught fire at the jetty in Kampung Losong Panglima Perang here today.

His father, Harif Fadhilah Hashim, 54, said he borrowed the boat from a friend and were planning to spend the Malaysia Day holiday to go sailing and snorkeling in Pulau Kapas with his sons, Haikal Amsyar, 16 and Hazman, 18.

“After filling up the gas tank, I tried to get the engine running, but it suddenly caught fire,” he said when met at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital here.

Harif Fadhilah said they immediately dived into the river and swam to safety before realising that Haikal Amsyar had sustained burns in both his legs, arms and face.

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State fire and rescue operation centre spokesman Mohd Rozairi Abdul Rahim said a team of firefighters were rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident.

“When we arrived at the scene, we saw the seven-metre long boat was almost completely torched and the injured victim had been taken to the hospital by the public,” he said, adding the losses and actual cause of fire were being investigated. — Bernamabomba