4 people rescued from sinking boat in Boston Harbor

Multiple people had to be rescued on Sunday after the boat they were on started sinking in Boston Harbor.

Massachusetts State Police and the Coast Guard said a mayday call was broadcast from a pleasure boat that was taking on water off the north side of Peddocks Island in the harbor around 4:50 p.m.

The boater reported that he and three other people onboard the boat had put on life jackets and were abandoning ship, state police said.

A state police marine unit boat was patrolling nearby and was able to quickly respond to the area between Quarantine Rocks and Sculpin Ledge Channel where troopers found the sinking boat, a 41-foot cabin cruiser, just as the four boaters had entered the water.

Troopers Benjamin Zahner and Brendan Heath were able to pull all four boaters from the water, with assistance from Sgt. Michael Pedersen and a Boston police vessel, state police said.

The four people -- two men and two women -- were taken to a Charlestown marina where one person was evaluated for a small cut. There were no other injuries, according to state police.

Video shared exclusively with NBC10 Boston showed the boat sinking by the Boston Harbor islands, as well as the dramatic rescue.

“We heard it on the radio and we were just heading that way, and it’s the first time I’ve ever experienced witnessing a boat sink,” said Nick Corradino, who used his cell phone to take video of the boat quickly going under the water.

“The boat was basically at almost like a 45 to 90 degree angle," Corradino said. "They were pulling the boat out of the water and rescuing people.”

"If I was the owner of the boat, I’m glad everyone’s safe but that’s a lot of money that just got sunk and hopefully they have insurance on it,” he added.

The cabin cruiser was recovered by TowBoatUS.

The cause of the vessel taking on water has not yet been determined. An invsetigation is ongoing.