A boater was rescued Wednesday afternoon after the vessel he was piloting alone caught fire approximately 20 nautical miles west of Santa Barbara Harbor, according to TowBoatUS Ventura, the towing company that responded to the emergency.
The boater has been identified by his wife, actress Kathy Ireland, as her husband, Dr. Greg Olsen. In an Instagram post, Ireland said Olsen was alone on the water aboard his boat, the 4th Watch, while she was away on business when the engine exploded and fire spread through the vessel.
“Engine exploded and a fire quickly melted all navigation equipment and survival raft!” Ireland wrote.
TowBoatUS Ventura said it received a call about the fire around 3 p.m. Wednesday and credited Olsen’s response for the positive outcome. According to the company, Olsen first attempted to put out the fire himself before activating his EPIRB, an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, and abandoning the burning boat for a kayak.
“This was about as good an outcome as one could hope for in an otherwise serious emergency. A well-prepared mariner, good samaritans nearby, and commercial vessels equipped and ready to respond made all the difference. It is a great reminder of the importance of preparedness, cooperation, and the maritime community looking out for one another.”
Ireland thanked those who assisted, including TowBoatUS Ventura and what she called “the entire community” for its quick response, and said she was grateful to “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for this miracle of his survival.”
In a separate message addressed to Olsen, Ireland reflected on the loss of the boat itself. “My heart is both heavy and full,” she wrote, noting the years of “love, sweat and life” Olsen had put into the vessel. “This vessel brought so much joy and so many blessings to our family and countless others,” she added, calling the outpouring of support from friends and followers a source of comfort. “I’m so thankful God gifted you with a brilliant mind to navigate this disaster so seamlessly,” she wrote. “Though the vessel is no more, the 4th Watch is forever.”
Olsen and Ireland married in San Diego in August 1988 and have three adult children, Erik, 32, Lily, 27, and Chloe, 23. The couple marked their 38th wedding anniversary this year.
