A MAN lost virtually everything he owns after fire swept through his houseboat home early today (Laura Patrick writes).

The blaze broke out on the Cheetah, berthed at Medway Bridge Marina at Rochester, at about 5am. The flames quickly took hold of the timber boat and soon the place was engulfed in fire and smoke.

All that remains of the boat now is a blackened shell. The fire is being blamed on an electrical fault.

Dave Harrison, station officer at Medway fire station, said: “The blaze was so fierce we had to cool the houseboats either side. The smoke was a problem as the wind blew from both directions. We had difficulty with the low tide so we had to use gang planks and the boats either side to gain access."

The boat is believed to be owned by a Mr Crowther, but Giles Billingsley, managing director of Medway Bridge Marina, knew little more about him other than that he was a middle-aged man who liked to keep himself to himself.

He said: “We were very lucky today that the fire did not spread. There had been an electrical problem on the boat at night that Mr Crowther couldn’t solve. He then went back to his car, where he stayed."

It is believed Mr Crowther is now staying with friends.