This is the dramatic moment a boat is engulfed in flames shortly after “exploding” on the River Thames on September 21.

Eight passengers on board the 20-foot river cruiser were forced to abandon ship and jump into the water near Twickenham, south-west London.

Eyewitness Christian Fahey watched the drama unfold during an afternoon stroll with his two-year-old daughter Willow at 3:00 pm on Saturday (September 21).

Footage captured on his mobile phone shows thick black smoke and flames pouring into the sky.

Chistian, a lawyer, said: “I heard a loud bang, turned around to see what it was and saw people jumping into the water."

This is the dramatic moment a boat is engulfed in flames shortly after “exploding” on the River Thames.

Eight passengers on board the 20ft river cruiser were forced to abandon ship and jump into the water near Twickenham, south west London.

Eyewitness Christian Fahey watched the drama unfold during an afternoon stroll with his two-year-old daughter Willow at 3pm on Saturday (Sept 21).

Footage captured on his mobile phone shows thick black smoke and flames pouring into the sky.

Chistian, a lawyer, said: “I heard a loud bang, turned around to see what it was and saw people jumping into the water.