A Bermuda Coast Guard team towed children to safety after their fishing boat took on water.

The rescue came after a beachgoer saw people waving sticks and shouting for help.

The Department of Marine and Ports Services said that a member of the public at Church Bay, in Southampton, called 911.

It added: “They could see a small vessel with persons on-board calling for help and waving sticks.

“A Pan Pan was broadcast, which was answered by dive vessel Modern Sinbad and the Bermuda Coast Guard.

“The vessel was found and towed to safety by the coastguard.

“It transpired that several children had taken a punt from the beach to go fishing and started calling for help when the punt started taking on water.”

The incident happened at about 3.30pm on September 24.