Four people, dog rescued at last moment from sinking boat off NJ coast

The Coast Guard rescued four people and a dog just moments before their motorboat sank off New Jersey on Sunday.

The 30-foot recreational boat was sinking near Forked River in Barnegat Bay when a Coast Guard boat, which was out on an exercise at the time, spotted it, officials said.

Passengers and the pooch were pulled to safety from the foundering boat moments before it flipped over.

“The boat’s owner believes the boat was taking on water due to a loose plug, but the compartment was not accessible to confirm,” said Chief Warrant Officer James B. Corbisiero, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light where the rescue crew was based out of, in a release.

“The timing of this rescue was fortunate,” he said. “I commend the Coast Guard boat crew’s attentiveness and fast actions to aide these people and their dog.”

The passengers and dog were brought safely to the nearby Lanoka Harbor.

The boat was eventually righted by salvagers and towed in to shore.