WATCH: 2 Rescued From Capsized Boat In LI Sound Far Off Niantic Bay

This story was reported and written by Patch editor Ellyn Santiago

EAST LYME, CT — Two men whose boat capsized in Long Island Sound, initially thought to be just off the shores of Niantic Bay, were rescued by East Lyme police officers and a Niantic firefighter late Tuesday afternoon.

The sinking vessel was around a quarter mile from the New York border in Long Island Sound off Black Point, in 70 to 100-feet of water.

The call first came in just after 4:30 from the people onboard, saying their craft was taking on water. While on the phone with a public safety dispatcher, the vessel capsized and sent both men into the water. They climbed on the top of the boat and waited for help.

"When the individuals had difficulty reporting their location, dispatchers decided to utilize FaceTime in an effort to visualize their surroundings. This decision helped pinpoint their location and the East Lyme Marine Unit, manned by two East Lyme police officers and a Niantic firefighter, arrived and pulled the people to safety," East Lyme Police Chief Mike Finkelstein explained.

Finkelstein said that while an uncommon way for first responders and victims to communicate, especially ones clinging to their boat in a choppy Sound, using FaceTime was helpful for first responders to “see” where they were and communicate more effectively.

The agencies involved include marine units from the Niantic Fire Department, East Lyme Police Department, the Goshen Fire Department, and US Coast Guard responded, along with East Lyme and Waterford Ambulances.

The boaters were taken to Mago Point in Waterford, where they were examined by Waterford Ambulance personnel.