A boat caught fire and mostly sunk in the Ashley River Friday afternoon.

At the time the boat wasn’t docked, it was anchored in the river near Wappoo Cut.

The Marine Unit from Charleston Fire responded with the help Mt. Pleasant Fire, Charleston County Rescue, DNR, St. Johns Fire Marine Unit and the Coast Guard assisting. 

One man was on-board the 40-foot sailboat when the fire started. He was able to escape to a dinghy and rescued.

We’re learning from Charleston City Fire that the man on board awoke to smoke in cabin, escaped through hatch hole. He was able to launch attached dinghy and motored to a friends boat to call 9-1-1.

The Charleston Fire Department is working with the Coast Guard on a plan for the boat’s removal. Officials say the boat is unrecoverable.

 Stay with News 2 for the latest on this story.