'Waves too strong, boat about to capsize': Motorboat overturns off Yeongjongdo, all 9 rescued

A motorboat carrying nine people capsized off the coast of Yeongjongdo in Incheon during a leisure outing Saturday. A nearby fishing vessel rescued all nine, but two men were transported to hospital in cardiac arrest.

The Korea Coast Guard received a report through the 119 emergency line at around 7:17 a.m. Saturday that a 1.6-ton motorboat was taking on water near Wangsan Marina in Eulwang-dong, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon.

The boat's operator had reported that "the waves are too strong and the boat looks like it's going to capsize." The vessel then did overturn.

The coast guard dispatched five patrol vessels and an aircraft to the scene and asked nearby fishing boats to assist in the rescue. A passing fishing vessel pulled all nine people aboard at around 7:29 a.m. — just 12 minutes after the initial report.

Among those rescued, a man in his 40s and another whose identity had not been confirmed were found unresponsive and not breathing, both in cardiac arrest. They were transported to hospital while receiving CPR from emergency medical personnel. The remaining seven had no significant health issues.

At the time of the accident, the boat carried nine men in total — eight in their 40s to 60s and one of unknown identity. The coast guard believes the group had set out from Wangsan Marina for leisure activities and is investigating the cause of the flooding and the full circumstances of the accident.