Man Rescued After Jumping From Burning Speedboat

NEWPORT BEACH — A 15-minute pleasure cruise turned into a harrowing misadventure Monday night for a 44-year-old Newport Beach man, who jumped from the burning deck of his luxury powerboat and treaded water until rescuers arrived, authorities said.

As a fast-moving fire tore through his 33-foot Sea Ray speedboat, Bruce Gustafson sent out a hurried mayday and dived into the waters off Balboa Peninsula clutching a flashlight and portable radio, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol deputies who saved him.

“He did the only thing he could to save himself,” Sheriff’s Sgt. James Thomas said after the 5:31 p.m. rescue. “This was a major, full-scale vessel fire.”

The 45-foot flames that engulfed Gustafson’s boat, the Rapture, could be seen for miles, and dozens of callers jammed emergency lines. The cause of the blaze was not clear Monday night, and Newport Beach Fire and Marine Department investigators were expected to comb the charred remains of the craft today for clues.

Gustafson told his rescuers he first saw a fire in the forward cabin of the 4-year-old luxury boat, which has the shape and power of a cigarette race boat. The boat was considered a total loss, with little remaining above the blackened hull that was coated in fire-retardant foam after it was moored, Thomas said.

The fire broke out minutes after Gustafson took the boat out of Newport Harbor and set course for Balboa Pier for a quick cruise, Thomas said.

“He said the boat had been in good working order and he was completely surprised by what happened,” Thomas said.

Gustafson lost his radio in the water but used the flashlight to signal the harbor patrol deputies, who found him about 100 feet from his burning boat, Thomas said.

“They plucked him from the water, and he was fine, just very cold,” Thomas said.