Three rescued as fishing boat sinks off Cape May

The Last Stand's last stand turned out to be about six miles off the Cape May coast - and its crew of three managed to survive its sinking with help from the U.S. Coast Guard.

According to information from the USCG Atlantic City station, the crew members aboard the 42-foot fishing craft issued a request for help, reporting a collision with the 78-foot tugboat Dean Reinauer that left the smaller craft taking on water.

Guard members in Cape May approached in a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium to find the three in a life raft as their vessel disappeared beneath the waves.

"The crew of the fishing vessel Last Stand was extremely prepared and knowledgeable on their safety equipment and procedures," said Petty Officer 2nd Class James Pappas in prepared comments.

"Their readiness allowed them to abandon ship within 10 minutes of the collision, including scrambling into their survival suits and ultimately into their life raft. They saved their own lives."

None of the crew members sustained injuries, the Coast Guard said.