A former picture editor for The News in Portsmouth proved that a photographer is never off duty as he captured the dramatic explosion of a speedboat near his house.

Steve Cutner, who is now a freelance, was having a barbeque in his back garden when he noticed black smoke coming from a nearby beach.

He grabbed his camera and arrived at the scene to find an abandoned speedboat ablaze.

Steve said: “I thought the black smoke was unusual and ran along with my camera.

“I thought it was all over and done with but saw the fire was still going as a bit of wind caught it alight.

“I waited for about two minutes as the boat was beginning to drift back in. I saw it was going to blow and had my camera to my eye to follow the shot through and get the picture at the right moment.”

The six men who were on the boat all escaped unhurt after they leapt overboard when they noticed the boat was on fire as they sailed past Hayling Island.

It is thought the blaze was caused by a petrol leak igniting after the men had refuelled at Sparkes Marina.

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