Two people were rescued by the Coast Guard after their boat began taking on water east of Point Lookout in St. Mary’s County.

The Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region received the distress signal via a very high frequency broadcast Saturday morning that a 37-foot boat was taking on water with two people on board, just four nautical miles from Point Lookout.

According to a social media post from the Coast Guard, the owner of the vessel initially reported that the bilge pumps, which are used to remove water that collects in the lowest part of the boat, were keeping up with the flooding.

“The situation quickly deteriorated when one pump failed, and the stern began to submerge,” the post reads.

The Coast Guard launched a response boat from the St. Inigoes station and notified state and local entities of the emergency.

Upon arrival, the Coast Guard rescued both people on board just seconds before the boat capsized and sank, the post says.