Poker pro Diego Gomez Gonzalez’s luxury yacht caught fire over the weekend, forcing people on board to evacuate. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

A professional poker player’s luxury yacht went up in flames on Saturday evening off the Mediterranean Island of Formentera. It is unclear if Diego Gomez Gonzalez, also known as “The Lion,” was on the 88-foot vessel at the time. A dozen passengers and five crew members were forced to evacuate the boat, which cost £45,800 (US$57,977) to charter during the summer.

A 39-year-old man received hospital treatment for minor burns. People on the nearby island of Ibiza were able to see the blaze. The Spanish coastguard reportedly sunk the vessel after unsuccessfully trying to tow it away.

he wore a lion costume at the final table of the 2012 European Poker Tour event

Gonzalez got his nickname after he wore a lion costume at the final table of the 2012 European Poker Tour event in Prague. His total live poker tournament winnings according to The Hendon Mob database is US$492,532.