An incident unfolded off the coast of City Island in the Bronx as a boat caught fire, leading to the injury of at least 22 people last night. The FDNY confirmed a routine patrol near Hart Island spotted the burning vessel. According to ABC7NY, three individuals were rescued from the water, while 19 others swam to shore during the incident. One person was later reported to be in critical condition at the hospital.
The captain at the helm, 33-year-old Joshua Brito of the Bronx, has been arrested and is facing charges of DWI and reckless endangerment. He is accused of having operated the boat under the influence, an act that has put so many lives in grave danger. Eyewitness videos show passengers dressed in white moving toward the front of the vessel as it was overtaken by flames, ABC7NY further reported.
FDNY Assistant Chief Mike Meyers provided some insight into the complex rescue operation that unfolded that evening, "The boat in order to fit that many people on it had to be a pretty decent size boat. Marine 4 did notice them earlier in the evening and they said there was a lot of people on that boat," he told ABC7NY. Responders worked continuously to rescue individuals from the water and transport them to safety on City Island, coordinating efforts across marine, land, and EMS units.
In addition, the NYPD deployed harbor, aviation, and drone units to support the complex rescue operation. The U.S. Coast Guard identified the vessel as a 44-foot powerboat with an enclosed cabin. Due to the severity of the fire, assistance was also provided by New Rochelle police and New York City firefighters. "They were just off the east end of Hart Island, and then they were picked up by the NYPD, Coast Guard and FDNY boats and transported back over to the docks at the Yacht Club on City Island," Michael Meyers noted in a statement obtained by Gothamist.
Footage of black smoke rising from the burning boat was shared widely on social media. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, initial information from the NYPD indicates that a collision has been ruled out. Brito, the individual arrested in connection with the incident, has not provided a statement. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the event.
