Submitted by the US Coast Guard

The Coast Guard and other agencies rescued three people and a dog Tuesday from a sinking vessel in Echo Bay on Sucia Island.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a report at 2 p.m. Tuesday of a 57-foot vessel taking on water after it struck rocks entering Echo Bay.

Watchstanders diverted a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Bellingham to assist the people and the dog.

Multiple good Samaritans arrived on scene to monitor the vessel and provide equipment to help reduce the ingress of water.

A Canadian Coast Guard helicopter crew also arrived on scene to monitor the vessel.

The Coast Guard boat crew arrived on scene, removed water from the vessel with a dewatering pump and towed the vessel toward shore for approximately 5 hours.

The boat crew towed the vessel to Hale Passage, where the vessel was transferred to a BoatUS boat crew.

The BoatUS crew towed the vessel toward shore, where it was moored in Bellingham.