TWO fishermen were rescued today after being pulled exhausted from the sea beside their capsized fishing boat.
The 12ft Min Eve was found by the Cowes Harbour Commission launch HM 1 near West Bramble Buoy, with one man clinging to the hull and another holding on to a rope.
Helmsman Dave Lewis so concerned about their condition that he requested the help of the Cowes RNLI lifeboat.
The two men were taken aboard the lifeboat and wrapped in survival bags before being rushed Town Quay, Cowes, where an ambulance took them to St Mary's Hospital, Newport.
The upturned fishing boat was towed back to Cowes by the harbour launch, where it was eventually righted and pumped out by the lifeboat crew.
Mr Lewis said: “The men had been in the water for over half an hour, and were starting to suffer from the cold quite badly when we arrived.
“One suffered from diabetes and neither was wearing lifejackets. I was very relieved that the lifeboat joined us on the scene so quickly.”
Lifeboat Operation Manager Mark Southwell said both men were making good progress in hospital.
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