The Coast Guard rescued four Rhode Island lobstermen whose boat sank early Thursday about 40 miles south of Block Island.
A distress call from the Sakonnet Lobster was received at about 4:15 a.m. that the boat was taking on water. The crew abandoned ship at about 6:40 a.m. in survival suits.
A helicopter rescue crew hoisted all four fishermen to safety about 20 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
“These are very lucky, but also very prepared fishermen,” said Lt. Matt Vanderslice, the aircraft co-pilot from Air Station Cape Cod, in a news release. “They had all the right gear onboard, it worked, and they knew how to use it. That’s why they’re safely back on land today.”
The Sakonett Lobster sank in about 250 feet of water, and the Cutter Chinook marked its last known position.
The Coast Guard said winds were blowing at 30 knots, seas were at 6 feet and the water temperature was 64 degrees.
Click here for the report, with Coast Guard video of the rescue, by NBC 10 News in Rhode Island.
