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More than 20 people rescued from burning boat in Bronx, 1 man arrested, officials say
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Jun 8, 2025
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By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Jun 8, 2025
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A man was arrested and more than 20 people were rescued after a boat traveling near Hart Island in the Bronx caught fire Saturday night, seriously injuring one of them, local and federal officials said.
The NYPD said its harbor, aviation and drone units responded around 8 p.m. to the vessel, which the U.S. Coast Guard described as a 44-foot powerboat with an enclosed cabin. New York City firefighters and New Rochelle police also assisted with the rescue.
One of the passengers was burned and hospitalized in critical condition, but was expected to survive, officials said.
FDNY Assistant Chief Michael Meyers said three people were rescued directly from the water while another 19 swam toward Hart Island, which is off the coast of City Island and Orchard Beach.
"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," Meyers said. "This just goes to show you what a coordinated effort happens between our marine units, our land units, and our EMS units to get here to help save lives."
A boat caught fire near Hart Island in the Bronx on June 7, 2025.
Videos posted to social media show large black smoke billowing from near Hart Island on Saturday night. NYPD officials said early Sunday they were still investigating the cause of the fire, but said it was not due to a collision.
Police said the man they arrested, 33-year-old Joshua Brito, was aboard the boat at the time of the incident. He has been charged with reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
Tagged
Hart Island
bronx
new york city
public safety
transportation
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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