The Costa Rican Coast Guard and firefighters from Puntarenas rescued five U.S. boaters off the coast of Playa Hermosa, Garabito, after a fire broke out on board a sport fishing boat Monday.
The Foxi Lady, a 42-foot boat, left Los Sueños Marina in Playa Herradura to go fishing Monday morning, but the day soon soured. Around 9 a.m., when the vessel was about a mile out, a fire started in the motor. Los Sueños Marina did not specify to The Tico Times what caused the fire, saying only that there was an explosion on board.
The captain, Peter Wishney of San Clemente, California, radioed for help, and Coast Guard from Caldera arrived at 9:50 a.m. with firefighters from Puntarenas and the marina in tow.
Despite efforts of the crew and firefighters, the fire consumed the boat and the vessel sank at 10:45 a.m., according to a statement from the Coast Guard.
Wishney and four other family members on board escaped the fire in an emergency boat. No one was injured.
