Their boat sank after it flipped when the three men moved to one side of it, according to the Coast Guard.

HERNANDO COUNTY – The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three men and a 12-year old boy Saturday (March 30) after their boat sank about three miles west of Bayport.

Rescued were Virginia Beach, VA, native David Johnson, 25, and Weeki Wachee, Florida, natives Kenneth Oakleaf, 28; Matt Fried, 41; and Fried’s 12-year-old son.

About 5:41 a.m. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a 911 transfer call from Hernando County dispatch reporting three people and a child were in the water clinging to life jackets. The boaters stated they were fishing when Oakleaf’s 14-foot boat sank.

An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched, arrived on scene about 7:11 a.m. and hoisted the boaters out of the water. The men and boy were transported to the air station and evaluated by Sunstar paramedics. There were no reported injuries.

According to the Coast Guard, Johnson said the boat sank because all the men moved to one side of the boat, which flipped. He said that, thankfully, the life jackets were placed in an easily accessible area, so they quickly floated to the top.

Click here for a video of the rescue.

Photo is screen grab from the video. Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.

U.S. Coast Guard | Sea Rescue | Tampabay News

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