Beach Patrol Chief Rod Aluise (AL-a-wheeze) says heavy smoke was coming from the 32-foot cabin cruiser when the fire was spotted around 12:45 p.m. Monday. Two rescuers then took personal watercraft out to the scene and saw a man standing on the deck.
As Coast Guard and Marine Police worked to extinguish the fire, the lifeguards got the man off the boat and brought him to shore. He was then taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he was being treated for shock and breathing difficulties.
The cause of the fire, which apparently began in a downstairs cabin area, remained under investigation late Monday afternoon.