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Body camera video shows police rescuing father, son from Boston Harbor

Police rescue father and son from Boston Harbor after boat sank
Police rescue father and son from Boston Harbor after boat sank 02:24

BOSTON – Police body camera video shows a dramatic rescue in the Boston Harbor. A 76-year-old father and his son were pulled out of the water near Graves Light.

They were lobstering Wednesday when their gear got caught in their propeller and the boat sank. One of them was clinging to a cooler when officers from the Boston Police Harbor Unit spotted them.

"As we approach, we saw just the tip of a submerged vessel," said Officer Garrett Boyle. 

Using a feature on the police boat that lowers the bow, officers were able to make the rescue.

"We got up to them, they looked nervous, you could see the fear in their face, they were cold, they looked very tired and weak. They were really struggling to keep their head above the water," said Officer Stephen Merrick.  

The men said once the engine died, they drifted onto the rocks, causing the boat to take on water.

The officers say the rescue was lucky timing. Any longer would have been dangerous due to the temperature of the water.

"You may have eyes on them, like oh we have them, they're safe, but they're not, it's very quick," said Boyle. "You can even be looking at them and they can drop right under and we will never get them again, it's scary."

EMS treated them for minor injuries. Their boat was recovered.

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