Coast Guard Boat Flips During Rescue Off New York

The boat Carolina Queen III is seen at Rockaway, New York February 25, 2016. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

A dramatic scene off the coast of Long Island, New York Thursday morning as a Coast Guard boat capsized during a rescue of mariners from a grounded fishing vessel.

The 76-foot fishing vessel Carolina Queen III ran aground near East Rockaway Inlet in the Queens Borough of New York at around 2 a.m., requiring the evacuation of seven crew members.

A 25-foot Coast Guard response boat rushing to the scene was met with heavy surf and flipped over, forcing the four Coast Guardsmen aboard to swim about 200 yards to shore.

All seven mariners aboard the fishing vessel were removed from the vessel and brought safely ashore by an HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City.

All mariners were reported with no injuries or medical concerns.

Salvage plans are being conducted to remove the fishing vessel and Coast Guard vessel from the inlet.

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