Woman, 42, dies after casino shuttle boat burst into flame off Florida’s Gulf coast

A 42-year-old woman has died after she and dozens of other passengers leapt into the sea off the coast of Florida to escape the inferno that was consuming their casino shuttle boat on Sunday night.

The woman, who has not been identified, died hours after escaping the 4pm fire, and less than an hour after she arrived at hospital saying that she felt ill, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point spokesman Kurt Conover said.

The cause of the woman’s death is still being determined, police said, although officials originally had said no injuries were life threatening. Some 15 passengers had experienced chest pain, smoke inhalation and other injuries.

The shuttle boat routinely carries people back and forth from the Tropical Breeze Casino Cruise, which is offshore because it can’t legally operate close to land, according to authorities. The company said it might have a statement later Monday.

Fire belched from the shuttle boat Sunday afternoon as it was heading out on one of its regular runs to a casino ship when the crew decided to turn around, said Port Richey Police Chief Gerard DeCanio.