Two boaters on a sinking ship kept their heads above water Tuesday evening thanks to an assist from Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.
The 26-foot pleasure craft Tiempo Libre started to slip below the waves after the boat clipped a submerged log off Eagle Harbour at about 6:30 p.m., according to RCMSAR volunteer emergency medical responder Lance Bright.
As water rushed into the boat, the passengers sent out a mayday call which was picked up by a crew of RCMSAR members who were training nearby.
The crew was on the scene within 10 minutes of hearing the words “we’re sinking!” said Bright.
Led by station unit leader Ian Grantham, the rescuers hoisted a pump onto the sinking boat and helped the two passengers onto the RCMSAR ship.
RCMSAR towed Tiempo Libre safely back to shore 15 minutes later, Bright said.
Had they been farther away, the pleasure craft would have sunk, according to Bright.
A Coast Guard ship took the log ashore.
