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Ferry fire on North Sea leads to two arrests Ferry fire on North Sea leads to two arrests
(35 minutes later)
Two men have been arrested after a fire on a North Sea ferry led to six people being airlifted to hospital.Two men have been arrested after a fire on a North Sea ferry led to six people being airlifted to hospital.
A 26-year-old was arrested on suspicion of arson and a 28-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray.A 26-year-old was arrested on suspicion of arson and a 28-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray.
RAF helicopters winched two passengers and four crew off the MS King Seaways, which was sailing to Amsterdam, when it was 30 miles off Flamborough Head.RAF helicopters winched two passengers and four crew off the MS King Seaways, which was sailing to Amsterdam, when it was 30 miles off Flamborough Head.
The DFDS ferry, which returned to North Shields early on Sunday, had 946 passengers and 127 crew on board.The DFDS ferry, which returned to North Shields early on Sunday, had 946 passengers and 127 crew on board.
The six people who required medical attention were taken to Scarborough Hospital and have now been discharged. The six people who were airlifted were taken to Scarborough Hospital suffering what was believed to have been the effects of smoke inhalation and have now been discharged.
Meanwhile, passengers have been disembarking following police interviews. Passengers have been disembarking following police interviews.
The two arrests were announced by Northumbria Police. Ferry operator DFDS said the fire had started at about 22:45 GMT on Saturday but had been extinguished within 15 minutes.
Earlier, Insp Andrew Dixon of Humberside Police said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had called them at about 23:00 GMT and had said a passenger was "believed to have set fire to a cabin". Insp Andrew Dixon of Humberside Police said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had called them at about 23:00 GMT and had said a passenger was "believed to have set fire to a cabin".
"As a result of this incident, the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred - be it deliberate or accidental - has been detained by ship staff," he added."As a result of this incident, the person suspected of causing the fire, or the person from the cabin where the fire occurred - be it deliberate or accidental - has been detained by ship staff," he added.
Some 15 passengers and eight staff were checked on the ferry by a doctor, DFDS added in a statement. Some 15 passengers and eight staff were checked on the ferry by a doctor, DFDS said.
It said the fire had started at about 22:45 GMT on Saturday but had been extinguished within 15 minutes. Spokesman Gert Jakobsen said the ferry had been boarded by police and fire investigators, who had spoken to crew members and passengers.
Gert Jakobsen, a spokesman for ferry operator DFDS, said the ferry had been boarded by police and fire investigators, who spoke to crew members and passengers. He told the BBC that customers who were now unable to travel to Amsterdam would be refunded - but the company would try to help people complete the journey.
He told the BBC that customers who were now unable to travel to Amsterdam would be refunded.
However he added that the company would endeavour to help people to complete the journey.
Mr Jakobsen said: "We will do everything to help our passengers. There will be a ferry leaving tonight, there will be some spaces on that [and] there will be some spaces offered on other ferry lines.Mr Jakobsen said: "We will do everything to help our passengers. There will be a ferry leaving tonight, there will be some spaces on that [and] there will be some spaces offered on other ferry lines.
"We hope to help as many as we can.""We hope to help as many as we can."
Steven Basford, who had been travelling to Amsterdam with his partner to celebrate the new year, described his experience of the fire alarm.Steven Basford, who had been travelling to Amsterdam with his partner to celebrate the new year, described his experience of the fire alarm.
"We were in our room at about 10.40pm last night when they raised the general fire or emergency alarm with seven high-pitched siren noises," he said. "We were told to evacuate outside the ship and when we got outside they asked us to converge around the lifeboats.
The 28-year-old, from Northumberland, went on: "We were told to evacuate outside the ship and when we got outside they asked us to converge around the lifeboats. "The fire was on our floor but on the other side of the ship. When we climbed up to the communal area we could see the smoke. It wasn't thick but it was definitely noticeable."
"The fire was on our floor but on the other side of the ship. When we climbed up to the communal area we could see the smoke. It wasn't thick but it was definitely noticeable. The 28-year-old, from Northumberland, added that although "people were generally pretty calm", a fight had broken out between two male passengers during the evacuation.
"People were generally pretty calm." "Obviously people had had a lot to drink - it's a bit of a party boat. Two big blokes started brawling," he said.
Karl McMurrough, from Pennywell, Sunderland, was also among the passengers.
The 18-year-old said: "We all got rushed on to the deck, there were helicopters, kids squealing, life jackets.
"They were telling us to keep calm but they weren't giving us any information."
And, when asked about passengers fighting, he said: "There were a few people going wild - no-one knew what was going on.
"I'm never going on a boat again, I'm horrified."
Mr Jakobsen said the cabin that was burnt was "very damaged" and there had been some smoke damage to surrounding cabins, "but the ship's function has not been affected in any way and is safe to travel".
The MCA said it would survey the vessel for any lasting damage.The MCA said it would survey the vessel for any lasting damage.
The MCA's Jo Rawlings told BBC News that conditions for the rescue had been "fairly calm".
Helicopters from RAF Leconfield and RAF Boulmer were sent to the scene.
The RAF crew had lifted those affected off the ferry within an hour.
DFDS runs a daily 17:00 GMT service from North Shields, arriving in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, at 08:30 GMT (09:30 local time).DFDS runs a daily 17:00 GMT service from North Shields, arriving in Ijmuiden, the Netherlands, at 08:30 GMT (09:30 local time).
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