Fishermen saved after boat sinks in John’s Bay

BOOTHBAY HARBOR – Two fishermen whose 35-foot trawler sank rapidly in John’s Bay on Wednesday were rescued by a passing vessel, Coast Guard officials said.

Doug Wood, of Bremen, and Damen Hilgendorf, of Boothbay Harbor, were found by the crew of the Jenruss II fishing boat shortly after 6 a.m., officials said.

The two men did not even have time to put on survival suits before the Boothbay Harbor-based Old Squaw sank. Both were treated for hypothermia and released from Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.

Coast Guard officials said the fishermen’s initial distress call was made over a radio frequency that the Coast Guard does not monitor. By the time a Coast Guard rescue boat arrived at the scene, the trawler had sunk.

Officials warned boaters that survival time in 35-degree water without a protective suit is only about one hour.