Fishing vessels similar to one that rescued the tug boat docked at Point Judith

 WPRO News and the Associated Press

A fishing boat rescued four people after a 50-foot tug boat towing an empty barge overturned in stormy waters off Point Judith.

The Providence Journal reports that a Coast Guard spokesman at the Woods Hole regional sector station in Massachusetts said the incident occurred at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Narragansett Fire Captain Peter Taylor said the four men were thrown into the water.

“They were in the water when the boat capsized and sank stern first. They were thrown into the water with their life jackets on and they did not have time to don their survival suits,” said Taylor.

Taylor said the men were rescued by a nearby fishing boat.

The empty barge is now believed to be adrift off point Judith.

The National Weather Service had a gale warning in effect for the area.