Video: Two people saved after leaping from burning boat in Michigan

Two people cruising in Traverse Bay, Michigan, were forced to jump into the water after their boat burst into flames.

A couple who were sailing nearby managed to assist the pair, after calling for them to jump when flames began to consume the 6-metre vessel, fearing it was about to blow up.

Dramatic footage captured by the rescuers and shared with ABC 11 shows passing boaters Nathan and Reno Greenwood shouting: “It’s too late, jump out right now. Get away!” as the pair cling to the side of their motorboat, apparently unsure how to respond to the thick smoke and intense heat.

“Within three seconds of them jumping off of the boat, it exploded”, Nathan Greenwood told ABC 11.

Greenwood says it was pure luck that he and his wife were there to assist by picking the pair up after their narrow escape.

“Whimsically, I decided to go out on a boat ride. We have our office right on the water there. It was a beautiful day, don’t normally do that. So it’s just very coincidental,” he tells UpNorthLive.

“There’s no way that we’re going to be able to put this fire out; we need to get them on board before it blows up. It’s literally just making a decision to save your life or to stay on board to die,” Greenwood adds.

Greenwood told the outlet that he is sharing the video to serve as a reminder about being prepared for an emergency. There are no reports of any injuries.

The small boat sank in around 20 metres of water, and Lake Marine Services salvaged it soon afterwards. It is not yet confirmed what caused the blaze.

Earlier this year, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) came to the rescue of a British dad and his two sons after they had to swim to safety when their boat engine caught fire.

The family had been enjoying a fishing trip off the Dorset coast in May, when the motor of their rigid inflatable boat (RIB) stalled and then caught fire.