Eight crew members aboard a sinking sport fishing boat were safely rescued Saturday in waters off southern New Jersey.
A passing boat notified the Coast Guard around 11:15 a.m. that the Always Late, a 48-foot vessel about 55 miles east of Cape May, was taking on water.
A rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City was sent to the scene, and an urgent marine information broadcast was issued. Four boats -- including the Marli, another sport fishing vessel -- soon arrived on scene.
Crew members aboard the Marli rescued seven crew members from the Always Late, while one crewman stayed aboard in an attempt to salvage it. The helicopter soon arrived on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer with a pump to assist the crewman, but their efforts were unsuccessful and both had to abandon the boat.
The crewman was then taken aboard the Marli.
