OVER 20 passengers onboard a boat were forced to plunge into the freezing water when their vessel burst into flames.

The group were in the waters off New York City just after 8:30 pm on Saturday when the terrifying explosion took place.

Emergency teams from the Coast Guard, New York Fire Department and New York Police Department all attended the scene near City Island in the Bronx.

The FDNY said that three people were pulled from the water, one in a critical condition.

All remaining passengers desperately swam to a nearby shoreline to escape the flames.

The frozen and terrified survivors were then rescued from there.

“Marine 4 grabbed three people out of the water,” the FDNY said in a statment.

“Subsequently, they were taken to a nearby dock where Engine 70 and EMS personnel were ready to commence CPR on the victims.”

“The remaining 19 individuals swam to Hart Island, located just off its eastern tip. They were then rescued by the NYPD Coast Guard and FDNY boats and brought back to the docks at the Yacht Club on City Island.”

In total, 22 people suffered minor injuries and one was more seriously harmed, the police said, per The New York Post.

They noted that the more injured passenger is stable.

Joshua Brito, from the Bronx was driving the boat at the time and has since been arrested.

The 33-year-old has been charged with DWI and reckless endangerment after driving the boat while intoxicated.

He is being arraigned at the Bronx Criminal Court on June 8.