Fishing boat crew rescued after boat runs aground off beach in New York

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Queens -- All seven crew members have been rescued from a fishing boat that ran aground off Rockaway Beach in Queens Thursday morning.

They were taken off the boat using a basket from a Coast Guard helicopter above. They are uninjured and being treated near the scene.

Around 2 a.m., a Coast Guard command center on Long Island received a distress call from the 76-foot scallop fishing vessel Carolina Queen III. It was taking on water with seven crewmembers aboard.

It had run aground just off Rockaway Beach and Beach 59th Street, near the East Rockaway Inlet.

It was not known why the ship ran aground. It was listing several yards off the shore.

A 25-foot Coast Guard vessel sent to assist the ship ended up overturning in the waters off East Rockaway Inlet. The inlet water had 10- to 12-foot waves.

According to the New York City Office of Emergency Management, the New York City Police and Fire departments were on the scene assisting the Coast Guard vessel.

Five Coast Guard members were able to get to the beach uninjured and they are being treated. They were wearing protective gear at the time their vessel overturned.

The boat was later secured on the beach.

The Coast Guard boat: