Survivors transported to shore, Coast Guard investigates cause of capsizing

BOSTON —A Middletown, R.I., fire and rescue crew transported seven survivors to Little Compton, R.I., after their boat capsized near the Sakonnet Lighthouse in Rhode Island, Monday, July 12, 2010.

Three people were rescued from the rocks at the lighthouse and four more were rescued from the water.

A Good Samaritan in a kayak rescued two people from the water before calling the Coast Guard on VFH-FM radio at 10:03 a.m.

No injuries or pollution have been reported at this time.

The Coast Guard is investigating what caused the vessel to capsize.

The Tiverton, R.I., Harbormaster, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and a Sakonnet River workboat crew are working to recover the overturned boat.

Coast Guard Station Castle Hill responded with a 25-foot and 45-foot boat crew but the boats were unable to get close enough to the rocks. The Coast Guard crews maintained oversight of the rescue while the fire and rescue crews worked to recover the survivors.

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