The fishing boat "Miss Dollie" put out a distress call to the Coast Guard, saying they were taking on water and the pump could not keep up.
A rescue boat and helicopter were dispatched.
That's where a good samaritan comes in.
The "Amy Marie," out of Cape May, was just 3 and a half miles away fishing for scallops when the mayday went out. They arrived in about 45 minutes to find the "Miss Dollie" on fire from a shorting out generator, and about to sink.
The three fisherman evacuated onto a life raft, and paddled to the "Amy Marie," which took them to shore.
WEB EXTRA VIDEO: Coast Guard videotapes the rescue at sea.
The coast guard rescue team in now investigating this near tragedy at sea. The "Miss Dollie" was a 57 foot boat, in service for more than 40 years.
The preliminary read is a piece of equipment punch a hole in the hull.
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