A Long Island native is being hailed a hero after a fire on a boat forced dozens of passengers to leap for their lives into the chilly waters off Florida's Gulf Coast.

Larry Santangelo was on his way home when he saw the commotion on the shuttle vessel and jumped into action.

The boat's 50 passengers and 12 crew members were traveling in the shuttle vessel destined for a casino boat when flames erupted around 4 p.m. Sunday.

Santangelo, who is originally from Huntington but currently lives in Port Richey, guided all the shivering, wet passengers into his garage to help them get warm.

"Once I realized they were soaking wet, every one of them, I ran upstairs and I started bringing down towels, blankets, clothes, socks - whatever I could grab out of my closet. Whatever I had to do to keep them warm," he says.

Officials say an unidentified 42-year-old woman died after the fire and that 15 people were injured.

Santangelo says the boat's captain was the true hero. He says he quickly turned the vessel around and grounded it close to the shore.

The former Long Islander says when he saw the confused passengers coming out of the water he did what came natural to him.

"I just jumped in. You don't think about it, whatever it takes you just do it," he says.

Tropical Breeze Casino says the shuttle boat that caught fire started having engine problems after leaving the dock, but an official cause is under investigation.

The company says the boat did not have any previous problems.