'WE didn't do any more or less than anyone in our position would have done'.

Those were the words from two men and a boy who saved a couple from a burning boat off Old Harry Rocks last Saturday (JUL 16).

The fire took hold of the 30ft sloop, sending plumes of smoke into the sky that could be seen for miles around.

Gary and Glenn Garratty, and Gary's son Sam, 10, were travelling back - aboard their 25ft power boat cruiser Knotty - when they heard a 'mayday' warning at around 6.30pm.

The three had spent the day in Studland enjoying the water and were returning home when they - and several other boats in the area - received the call. The jetted back a mile to see what they could do.

Gary, 72, said: "We just went back to them to see if we could be of assistance and as it happened we were the nearest to get to them and pull them off.

"We went up alongside, said 'jump on us and we'll move to a safer area'. The radio was crackling away from all the various support vessels.

"Everything was safe and secure but then the boat was really on fire. Then the couple watched their boat disappear."

Neither the man nor the woman who were rescued were injured during the incident but the woman was visibly upset, Gary said.

"One of the worst things that can happen is a fire," Gary added. "It's a bit like walking a plank - the plank gets shorter and shorter and the fire keeps coming towards you. We're lucky in Poole as there are a lot of boats that are around that can come to your aid. It was a Saturday so there were a lot of boats out. It could have been a lot worse. We feel for the couple that lost their boat. People tend to think if you have a boat you've got lots of money but when you lose it it's a bit of a disaster."

The captain of the Condor Liberation - which also stopped during the incident - Steve Ainscow, wrote to the Harbour Master to praise the “quick thinking” crew aboard Knotty.