Fishermen Swim To OC Shore From Capsized Boat

NEWPORT BEACH (CBS) — Two men in a skiff that capsized while they were fishing for lobster off Newport Beach were able to swim to shore, officials said Thursday.

The men were using hoop nets to catch lobsters when their boat capsized late Wednesday evening last night, said Sgt. Tom Fischbacher of the Newport Beach police department's Airborne Law Enforcement Services.

KNX 1070's Bill Cooper reports says police had to call off the lifeguards.

When rescuers arrived, one man had already made it ashore, but the surf and wind pushed the other man downshore, said Jennifer Schulz of the Newport Beach Fire Department.

Using night-vision goggles, a Costa Mesa police helicopter crew spotted the other man at the north end of Crystal Cove State Park, Fischbacher said.

The man was able to point a flashlight at the helicopter crew, and they kept a spotlight a light on the man so Orange County firefighters could catch up to him in their boat, Fischbacher said.

But the fisherman swam ashore before his would-be rescuers got there, Schulz said.

Neither man needed to go to the hospital, Schulz said.

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