Three people were rescued unhurt from the Kenai River after their boat took on water Friday.

The Kenai Police Department, Kenai Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a call around 3:30 p.m. reporting that a small boat had capsized on the Kenai River. It went under after getting hit by wake from a passing vessel, said Kenai Fire Chief Jeff Tucker.

“They got waked,” Tucker said. “They were (in) a low-set boat.”

The three passengers were rescued by a neighboring vessel and were not hurt, he said.

The Kenai Fire Department’s patrol boat towed the capsized boat and the vessel that came to the rescue behind it while people worked to bail out the capsized boat. It was then returned to shore at the Kenai City Dock.

Chief Warrant Officer Lars Hollis said the Coast Guard generally responds to marine accidents, and that members were already on patrol in the area when they rounded a bend and saw the accident.

This was the second boat to capsize on the Kenai River this week.

–Staff Reports