A crew from Air Station Sitka rescued four men from a life raft early Wednesday after their fishing vessel began sinking near Lituya Bay in Southeast Alaska, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard received a mayday call from the captain of the Petersburg-based vessel Kupreanof around 3:40 a.m. He said the 73-foot vessel was taking on water in the Gulf of Alaska. The Coast Guard aircrew arrived at 5:21 a.m., said Petty Officer 3rd Class Meredith Manning.
A video released by the Coast Guard shows waves lapping over the Kupreanof as the men -- wearing immersion survival suits -- disembark from the boat into a life raft. Within minutes, the boat had sunk and the aircrew had hoisted the men into an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.
Manning said all four men were taken to Air Station Sitka and were in "good condition."
The Coast Guard said it is attempting to determine the cause of the sinking.