Three Killed, Eight Injured in Sailboat Fire : Tragedy: The intense blaze erupted on a 52-foot craft that was cruising 2 1/2 miles south of Point Loma. The survivors were rescued after they jumped overboard.

Three people died Saturday and eight others were injured after an intense fire erupted on a sailboat cruising about 2 1/2 miles south of Point Loma, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

One person died at UC San Diego Medical Center after being evacuated by a U.S. Navy helicopter from the burning 52-foot sailboat La Gitana. Two bodies were removed from below deck after a Coast Guard rescue boat towed the sailboat to an onshore Coast Guard facility and firefighters entered the hold, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

The San Diego County medical examiner’s office was trying to identify the victims and notify next of kin late Saturday; no names were released.

The eight who were injured jumped overboard immediately after the fire broke out and were rescued by another boat, the Wanderer, which was in the vicinity.

The Wanderer took the eight to the San Diego Harbor Police docks at Shelter Island, where paramedics treated them for burns, shock and smoke inhalation, the Coast Guard said. Two were later taken to UC San Diego Medical Center, two to Mission Bay Hospital and two to Sharp Cabrillo Hospital, and all were released Saturday night after additional treatment, hospital spokeswomen said.

The Coast Guard said that the sailboat’s captain, who was injured in the incident, radioed a call for help about 4:30 p.m. in reporting a fire on board. The Coast Guard sent a 41-foot utility rescue boat and diverted two Navy H-60 helicopters to hover over the boat. In addition, firefighting boats from the San Diego Lifeguard Service and the San Diego Harbor Patrol were sent to the scene.