Thirty tourists were today forced to jump off a burning Duck Boat and into the Thames as the boat sank near to the Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Bridge.
Flames ripped through the tour vessel in Central London around midday.
The passengers - described by a London Fire Brigade spokesman as 'cold, wet and in shock' - were hauled to safety by crews on passing tour barges.
The boat was later towed away.
Sinking: Flames ripped through the tour vessel on a stretch of water close to Lambeth Bridge and the Houses of Parliament in Central London shortly before midday
Going down: A London Fire Brigade spokesman said that there did not appear to be any serious injuries, 'but clearly people are cold, wet and in shock'
The incident happened on the Thames near Lambeth Bridge and the Houses of Parliament
Seven patients were being treated for smoke inhalation and two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, the London Ambulance Service said.
A third of the boat was damaged. 'Approximately 30 people were rescued by passing tourist boats,' the fire official said. 'All persons were accounted for.'
It comes three months after 31 people had to be rescued when an amphibious tourist bus called the Yellow Duckmarine sunk in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
A Metropolitan Police helicopters spokesman said: 'We were on scene extremely quickly, confirming all accounted for and no-one needing rescue.'
Witness Harry Cole, who works for The Spectator magazine, described the events on Twitter as they unfolded, calling the boat a 'flaming vessel of doom'.
Neil Withers, the fire brigade's group manager, who is at the scene, said: ‘A number of people jumped into the water but they were soon rescued.
Responding: A London Fire Rescue boat approaches the smoking London Duck Tours amphibious vehicle on the River Thames, close to the Houses of Parliament
Saved: Emergency services attend to a tourist boat after it caught fire on the River Thames in Central London. About 30 passengers were rescued from the boat
North bank: A Thames RIB Experience speedboat is used to rescue passengers from the smoking London Duck Tours amphibious vehicle on the Thames
'Fortunately at this stage it doesn’t look like anyone’s been seriously injured. People are clearly cold, wet and in shock but they were pulled from the water really quickly. That’s testament to the work of our firefighters, other emergency rescue teams and others who rushed to the scene to help.
‘People were rescued by firefighters, the RNLI, police officers and other non-emergency boats were also nearby and assisted in the rescue operation.
'The casualties, who are tourists, are being looked after by the London Ambulance Service and firefighters, who are keeping them warm and making them cups of tea.
‘The damaged boat was pulled away from the scene by our fire boat and a full investigation into exactly what happened will now be taking place.’
The brigade had six fire engines, two fire rescue units and its fire boat at the scene. The Port of London Authority is expected to investigate the incident. A police source said the nature of the injuries ‘could have been a lot worse’.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Police were called at approximately 11.55pm to reports of a fire on a Duck Tours boat on the River Thames. A number of people were reported to be in the water at the time.
'Several Metropolitan Police units attended including the Marine Policing Unit and the police helicopter. A number of people were recovered from the water. All 28 passengers and two crew members have been accounted for. The emergency services are in attendance at the scene.’
It comes after a yacht on the River Ouse in York was destroyed in a blaze last night which led firefighters to evacuate city-centre premises nearby.
Read more: Thirty people jump into the Thames after Duck Boat sets on fire and starts sinking near Houses of Parliament | Mail Online
Flames ripped through the tour vessel in Central London around midday.
The passengers - described by a London Fire Brigade spokesman as 'cold, wet and in shock' - were hauled to safety by crews on passing tour barges.
The boat was later towed away.
The incident happened on the Thames near Lambeth Bridge and the Houses of Parliament
Seven patients were being treated for smoke inhalation and two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, the London Ambulance Service said.
A third of the boat was damaged. 'Approximately 30 people were rescued by passing tourist boats,' the fire official said. 'All persons were accounted for.'
It comes three months after 31 people had to be rescued when an amphibious tourist bus called the Yellow Duckmarine sunk in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
A Metropolitan Police helicopters spokesman said: 'We were on scene extremely quickly, confirming all accounted for and no-one needing rescue.'
Witness Harry Cole, who works for The Spectator magazine, described the events on Twitter as they unfolded, calling the boat a 'flaming vessel of doom'.
Neil Withers, the fire brigade's group manager, who is at the scene, said: ‘A number of people jumped into the water but they were soon rescued.
'Fortunately at this stage it doesn’t look like anyone’s been seriously injured. People are clearly cold, wet and in shock but they were pulled from the water really quickly. That’s testament to the work of our firefighters, other emergency rescue teams and others who rushed to the scene to help.
‘People were rescued by firefighters, the RNLI, police officers and other non-emergency boats were also nearby and assisted in the rescue operation.
'The casualties, who are tourists, are being looked after by the London Ambulance Service and firefighters, who are keeping them warm and making them cups of tea.
‘The damaged boat was pulled away from the scene by our fire boat and a full investigation into exactly what happened will now be taking place.’
The brigade had six fire engines, two fire rescue units and its fire boat at the scene. The Port of London Authority is expected to investigate the incident. A police source said the nature of the injuries ‘could have been a lot worse’.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Police were called at approximately 11.55pm to reports of a fire on a Duck Tours boat on the River Thames. A number of people were reported to be in the water at the time.
'Several Metropolitan Police units attended including the Marine Policing Unit and the police helicopter. A number of people were recovered from the water. All 28 passengers and two crew members have been accounted for. The emergency services are in attendance at the scene.’
It comes after a yacht on the River Ouse in York was destroyed in a blaze last night which led firefighters to evacuate city-centre premises nearby.
Read more: Thirty people jump into the Thames after Duck Boat sets on fire and starts sinking near Houses of Parliament | Mail Online
