By Christoph Sator

Trieste/Borna - A German vacationer has died in a fire on a boat in Italy . The deceased was from Borna in Saxony , the fire department told the German Press Agency.

The accident occurred on the Stella River in the municipality of Palazzolo, where the boat was anchored.

The husband of the deceased was taken to hospital with life-threatening burn injuries.

The authorities did not initially provide any information on the suspected cause of the fire at around three in the morning.

According to the Ansa news agency, the two Germans were surprised by the fire while they were asleep, as the man himself told the rescuers.

He had woken up because of unusual noises and wanted to check. However, he was then unable to make it below deck to help the woman.

In the attempt, he suffered burns himself and inhaled a lot of smoke. He eventually jumped overboard into the water.

When the fire department arrived, the twelve-metre-long boat was already in flames, as can be seen on video footage. The emergency services were unable to reach the woman and the boat sank due to the fire. It was not until the morning that divers from the fire department found the woman's lifeless body.

The fire department was deployed with a large contingent. The police and public prosecutor's office are investigating.

Original article from 11.14 a.m., last updated at 3.41 p.m.