The first 911 call about the fire came in around 4:15 p.m., CNN affiliate WFTS reported. “They were absolutely frigid when they got out of there,” Fossa said. The 59-degree water combined with Gulf breezes created a risk of hypothermia for the passengers, emergency officials said. “If we didn’t show up at the time we did, there were going to be serious consequences,” Zimmerman said. Officer Jason Zimmerman of the New Port Richey Police Department said some of the older passengers were face down in the water when he reached them.

#PascoCounty #PascoFire /k7I9ww2oVh- Pasco Fire Rescue January 14, 2018 50 people on board and all safely ashore.

Pasco Fire Assisted Port Richey Fire at a shuttle boat fire. All those aboard were accounted for, the Coast Guard said Sunday evening. The injuries included smoke inhalation and chest pains, fire department Deputy Chief Andrew Fossa said. Officials said the boat’s captain saved lives because he turned the boat around when he noticed the flames, managing to get closer to shore and making it easier for first responders to reach those in the water. There were 50 people on board when the fire started about half a mile from shore, said Shawn Whited, the Pasco County fire division chief. The extent of her injuries or the cause of death were not released. The female passenger, 42, died at 10:42 pm on Sunday at the Bayonet Point Regional Medical Center where she was being treated for her injuries, according to Kevin Doll, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Fifteen people were injured Sunday when a fire broke out on a shuttle boat taking passengers to a casino boat near New Port Richey, Florida, north of Tampa.

Florida casino boat fire