Boat goes up in flames off Perth’s Cottesloe Beach, two men forced to flee in dingy

A large boat caught fire just off the coast of one of Perth’s most iconic beaches on Monday morning.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Marine Rescue and Water Police were called to the vessel 1km off Cottesloe Beach about 8.25am after reports of a fire in the engine bay.

When authorities arrived, the 21-metre-long boat was fully engulfed in flames.

Surf Life Saving WA’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter were also dispatched to the scene where they spotted the two occupants of the vessel in a nearby dinghy.

The chopper crew guided WA Water Police to the dinghy and the two people were safely escorted back to Fremantle.