The Coast Guard and local responders hoisted 6 people safely off a scallop boat in Buzzards Bay Sunday morning after it began to take on water.
The 72-foot-boat, Captain Jeff, began sinking five miles off the coast of New Bedford, Massachusetts. A person aboard contacted the Coast Guard in Woods Hole to report the sinking.
"The vessel was sinking by the bow and a couple of pumps were put on board but they were unable to keep up with the flooding," said New Bedford Fire Chief, Michael Gomes.
Officials say a boat crew and a helicopter from Cape Cod responded to the scene and a rescue swimmer was deployed to help the crew on board. When the rescue swimmer realized the dewatering equipment was not working, he assisted all six people off the boat and aboard a task force boat.
"He maneuvered right up to the boat in heavy seas and the crew was transferred over — a couple of people at a time it took 3 attempts to accomplish that but the crew was able to get on to his vessel," Gomes recalled.
The crew was taken to New Bedford to be evaluated by awaiting emergency services personnel. There were no reported injuries.
