Hampton, Va. – Three boaters were rescued Thursday evening after their boat capsized under the East Mercury Boulevard bridge that leads to Fort Monroe.
The boaters had sought refuge from a storm under the bridge structure when their craft overturned.
A firefighter wearing a flotation device was lowered by rope into the water and provided personal flotation devices to two of the boaters who were trying to support themselves by hanging onto a bridge pylon.
The third boater utilized a cooler as a flotation device and eventually exited the water on his own.
Rope tag lines were attached to the two remaining in the water while firefighters and police personnel on the bridge guided them to shore and safety.
Fire personnel also removed the boat from the water as well. The boaters were assessed by on scene EMS personnel, but did not want to be transported to a hospital.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission is investigating the incident.
