90-year-old Marblehead man, son injured after boat catches fire

A 90-year-old Marblehead man and his 60-year-old son were injured Thursday when their 45-foot sailboat caught fire, police said.

The elderly victim on the boat was reported to have suffered lacerations, while his son was pulled from the water with burns to his face, said Marblehead Fire Chief Jason R. Gilliland.

The men, who were not identified, were taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and North Shore Medical Center Salem Hospital, Marblehead police said, although they did not immediately know which victim went to which hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.

“Shortly after 5 p.m. this afternoon, Marblehead Harbormasters reported a 45’ sailboat off the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead Harbor, was on fire with heavy smoke showing,” police said in a statement.

A nearby Eastern Yacht Launch driver, Andrew DiMare, 22, assisted the 90-year-old victim on the boat after hearing reports of the fire on his radio. He also took the man to meet an ambulance at State Street Landing, according to officials.

Marblehead police and fire, EMS, and the US Coast Guard were all on scene off Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead Harbor to assist with the incident.