2 Fishermen Missing, 1 Rescued After Boat Sinks Off Block Island

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (CBS/AP) — Two fisherman have been reported missing after their boat took on water and sank near Block Island.

The Coast Guard says it received a distress call after the fishing boat Mistress capsized Tuesday morning off Block Island, Rhode Island.

The boat started taking on water near the nation's first offshore wind farm.

A nearby fishing boat, Captain Bligh, got to the scene first and rescued one fisherman from a life boat. The crew reported that two fishermen were still missing.

"I was there, did what I know how to do - put 100 percent trying to get these guys home," said Cpt. Andrew Arnett, who rescued the fisherman and then continued searching for hours hoping to find the other two.

A U.S. Coast Guard aircraft searches for two missing fishermen off Block Island. (WBZ-TV)

Arnett said his crew spotted a light, then saw a life boat. Inside was one of the three missing fishermen.

"He came right down the starboard side, my guys grabbed the raft and he stuck an arm out and that's all he needed," Arnett said.

A total of seven Coast Guard resources searched a 375-square nautical mile area. Low visibility and poor weather hampered initial searches, but once visibility improved the search expanded.

The Mistress docks in Point Judith, Rhode Island.

Conditions were rough off Block Island. (WBZ-TV)

Arnett said the fisherman had mixed emotions after being rescue.

"He told us he was happy he was rescued but doesn't feel right being the only one," Arnett said.