5 Rescued From Sinking Boat Off The Jersey Shore

LONG BRANCH, NJ — Five people were brought safely back to shore on Sunday after a group of good samaritans helped the U.S. Coast Guard rescue them from a sinking boat, a Coast Guard spokesperson told Patch.

The incident occurred on Sunday when another vessel (called “The Gambler”) came across a sinking boat and five people sitting atop its hull about three miles east of Elberon, the spokesperson said.

Once the Gambler came across the ship, those onboard were able to recover one of the people on the sinking ship, while a separate ship of good samaritans came across the situation and helped rescue the other four.

A nearby Station Manasquan Inlet 29-foot Response Boat was then diverted to the area along with an NJ State Police boat, the spokesperson said.

With their help, all five mariners were brought back to the Shark River Municipal Pier, and no injuries were reported. The sinking boat was towed to shore.

“We pulled over and lowered our rescue ladder and got one of them into the boat,” Captain Bob Bogan, operator of the Gambler, told the Asbury Park Press. “Another person in a Mako came over at the same time and got the rest of the guys out of the water.”

“The Coast Guard got there pretty quickly,” he continued. “They did a good job getting everyone back to shore.”