RNLI Brighton Lifeboat along with fire fighters from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, personnel from Solent Coastguard, South East Coast Ambulance and the Marina attended the incident.

It was quickly established that the couple who live on the boat had been away at the time the fire started. They returned, discovering the smoke and in their attempts to fight the fire - and indeed to rescue their dog - they suffered from minor smoke related injuries. While they were able to be treated on-scene, sadly their dog didn't survive.

Brighton Lifeboat provided safety cover for the agencies working near the vessel and once it was deemed safe to approach, carried out of sweep of the local area on behalf of Solent Coastguard to check for signs of any pollution.

As none was found and the casualty vessel was still floating at its berth, Brighton lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

A spokesman said: "For the couple who lived on the vessel it is clearly tragic, loosing their dog and their home suffering considerable damage in this way. Our thoughts are with them at this time."

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