BRUNSWICK, GA — Two fishermen were rescued Monday after their 30-foot boat suddenly sank about 75 miles off the coast of Brunswick, Georgia, turning what had been a routine trip into a fast-moving emergency.

The men, identified as Calvin Roman and Zachary Wade, had been fishing since Saturday when their vessel started taking on water. One of them swam down to recover an emergency beacon before the boat went under, a move that helped alert rescuers in time.

A nearby motor vessel, the American Phoenix, responded to the distress call and pulled the men from the water as they held onto a bean bag until help arrived.

Distress signal reached watchstanders early Monday morning

According to Coast Guard Southeast District information, watchstanders received the emergency alert at 6:50 a.m. Monday. From there, they began coordinating the rescue and asked the crew of the American Phoenix to assist because the ship was closest to the scene.

The quick response mattered because the men were already in the water after their fishing boat went down. The Coast Guard said the pair remained with the bean bag while the passing vessel brought them aboard and kept them out of further danger.

That kind of cooperation between mariners and federal rescue crews is a major part of offshore safety, especially when help has to travel many miles across open water.

American Phoenix crew reaches the men before Coast Guard boat arrives

The American Phoenix got to the fishermen first and recovered them from the water. After that, Coast Guard Station Mayport launched a rescue boat to meet the vessel about four miles offshore and take over the response.

The handoff allowed the Coast Guard to bring the mariners safely to land after the initial rescue at sea. Officials said the coordinated effort involved multiple Coast Guard units working together across the region.

Those units included watchstanders, Air Station Savannah, Air Station Clearwater, Station Mayport, and Coast Guard sectors in Charleston and Jacksonville, all supporting the same emergency response.

No serious injuries were reported after the sinking

The fishermen made it through the ordeal without serious injuries, which is the most important outcome after a boat sinks so far from shore. Being taken from the water and transferred to Coast Guard care reduced the risk of hypothermia and other complications that can follow an offshore emergency.

While officials did not report major medical concerns, the event still underscored how quickly conditions at sea can change. A fishing trip that began Saturday ended with an emergency beacon, a rescue ship, and a Coast Guard transfer back to shore.

The men’s safe return was the result of fast action by both the nearby commercial vessel and the responding federal crews.

Officials have not said why the boat took on water so fast

Coast Guard officials have not yet confirmed what caused the 30-foot fishing boat to take on water and sink so quickly. That remains an open question as investigators or responders review the circumstances surrounding the emergency.

What is clear is that the boat began flooding while the fishermen were offshore, forcing them to abandon it and rely on their emergency gear and nearby help. The recovery of the beacon likely improved the chances of locating the men before the situation became worse.

For now, the focus remains on the rescue itself and the safe outcome for the two mariners.

A coordinated rescue effort brought both men safely back to land

The Coast Guard’s account shows how multiple pieces can come together during an offshore emergency: a working distress beacon, a nearby ship willing to assist, and rescue crews ready to meet the vessel and continue the transfer.

In this case, that chain of response kept the outcome from becoming far worse. The American Phoenix reached the fishermen in the water, and Station Mayport completed the journey to shore.

For Calvin Roman and Zachary Wade, the day ended not with a loss at sea, but with a safe return after a frightening sinking miles from home.

Real, uplifting stories from across America – GCHS Eagle's Eye.