Chinese naval vessel Zhoushan has rescued a sailor injured in a fire on board a Chinese fishing boat at sea, a source from the navy told Xinhua on Saturday.

Fire broke out on fishing boat Zhelingyu 90058 with 24 fishermen aboard on Friday in the East China Sea. Six crew were killed and one badly injured.

The Donghai Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, received a distress signal on Friday afternoon and dispatched the Zhoushan from a destroyer force patrolling nearby waters, according to the PLA navy source.

The injured sailor was taken aboard the vessel and given medical treatment.

The Zhoushan then returned to port and the man taken to hospital for further treatment.

He is now in a stable condition.