Two Coast Guard rescuers helped pull two men to shore this morning off Coquina Beach in Dare County, N.C.

A retired guardsman used a cell phone about 8:29 a.m. to report seeing the two men in the water with their boat sinking off the beach, said Petty Officer Mark Jones, a Coast Guard spokesman.

The two guardsman who went to check on the call spotted one of the boaters hanging from the bow of the small pleasure craft, Jones said. They saw the other boater swimming about halfway to shore and heard him shouting for help.

A rescue swimmer from another agency headed out toward the swimmer, grabbed him and was assisted by a guardsman in pulling him to shore.

The swimmer then headed out toward the other man hanging onto the boat and brought him to shore where the guardsman helped him, Jones said.

Coquina Beach is south of Nags Head.