Four people, including two children, were plucked from waters off St. Philip’s Saturday morning after their small boat overturned.

Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s fire captain Bazel Hibbs told VOCM all four were already back on shore and being treated by paramedics when his crews arrived just after 10:30 a.m.

He says the four were floating in the cold water for about 10 minutes before they were rescued by people in another boat who happened to be in the area, almost a kilometre from shore. Both boats were taking part in the recreational food fishery at the time.

Hibbs says the fact that all four people were wearing lifejackets almost certainly averted a tragic outcome.

The overturned boat was later towed to shore by a speed boat.