5 rescued after boat sinks in Warwick

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - One adult and four kids are safe after their boat sank near Conimicut Lighthouse in Warwick on Tuesday afternoon.

Officials say a man was out fishing with four children when the 16 foot boat started taking on water. Richard Martin, the only adult on-board told Eyewitness News that an afternoon storm kicked up high surf, causing waves to swamp the back of the boat.

That's when Martin called his wife, who then called 911.

"We're out there fishing by the light house, I'm tied off at the lighthouse, and all of a sudden black clouds and the rain started coming. Instead of the front of the boat being towards the weather, the back of the boat was towards the weather, so the waves were crashing into the boat instead of into the front of the boat where it could have took the weather. It started swamping the boat," said Martin.

Everyone onboard, 3 males, and 2 females were able to swim to the nearby lighthouse. A rescue boat launched by the Warwick Fire Department transported the boaters from the lighthouse to Oakland Beach.

Everyone is expected to be okay.