The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen off Nash Island, Down East Maine, Thursday, after their lobster boat became disabled when a swell pushed the vessel onto a rock causing them to swim to shore.

At 5:40 p.m., a concerned neighbor called watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Jonesport reporting that his neighbors went fishing at 11 a.m. in a 21-foot white lobster boat and were due back by 1 p.m., but they hadn't returned. He also reported that his friends only spoke French.

A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from launched from Station Jonesport, and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew launched from Air Station Cape Cod.

As the boat crew entered the vicinity of Eastern Harbor, they observed a red flare and investigated. Once on scene, the crew found a partially submerged white lobster boat and two men on Nash Island waving their arms and whistling. One of the fishermen held another flare.

Unable to get to the fishermen due to the rocky shallow water, the boat crew kept watch over the fishermen until the aircrew arrived. The aircrew landed on the island, and the fishermen were bought into the aircraft cabin.

The fishermen were taken back to Station Jonesport to awaiting their wives and Emergency Medical Services for evaluation.