SOS text message saves fishermen off WA

Two young men and a dog were rescued as their boat sank off the West Australian coast, after one of the men was able to quickly send a text message to a friend for help.

The men, aged 23 and 20, were in the water for about 45 minutes after their boat sank off Dongara - about 300km north of Perth - on Monday afternoon, according to local police sergeant Grant Rosman.

Sgt Rosman said a friend who was near the local marina received the text and mounted a search for the trio and found them before Sea Rescue.

He said the two men were understood to be uninjured.