5 boaters rescued off Captiva

Five people were rescued Thursday morning after their boat capsized, according to the Captiva Fire Department.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office marine unit responded around 8:50 a.m. in reference to a call about a vessel taking on water about four miles west of Redfish Pass in the Gulf of Mexico.

Deputies approached the vessel and found five males sitting atop the capsized boat, and only two were wearing life jackets, according to the sheriff’s office. Captiva Fire Department also helped in the rescue efforts.

They were taken to the South Seas Plantation for medical treatment, but no one suffered serious injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

The boaters tried to anchor the vessel to a reef, but the boat slipped anchor and began to drift, the sheriff’s office said. One of the boaters jumped in the water in an attempt to secure the anchor, but an approaching wave swamped the boat, and deputies said, “the bilge pump could not keep up with the vessel taking on additional water.”

There were rough seas ranging 2 to 3 feet, the sheriff’s office said. The boat then capsized.

The circumstances leading up to the rescue were unclear.

Trust WINK News for more information as details become available.