5 Rescued From Sinking Boat Off Wareham
WAREHAM (CBS) -- Local crews from multiple towns and the Coast Guard helped rescue five people from a boat taking on water off Wareham early Sunday morning.
"The boat had submerged down to the rails, [in] approximately three feet of water," said Marion Harbormaster Isaac Perry. "And all five people, who were wearing their lifejackets, were still on the vessel."
Everyone on board, a group from Lowell out fishing, was able to stand on the desk in about a foot of water until they were rescued.
According to the Wareham Harbormaster, the call for help came in around 5:40 a.m. The boat was located almost an hour later.
The 23-foot boat hit an underwater rock and was found in "a shallow and rocky area northeast of Little Bird Island" off Wareham.
"Our boat has a very shallow draft so we were able to get right up to them, transfer the five parties on board our boat," explained Perry.
He added that the area can be deceiving. "It is a large open body of water with shallow spots and rock bars all over."
No one on board was seriously injured. Marion responders took care of minor cuts and scraps while giving them a ride back to the boat ramp.
Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports