Children rescued from capsized boats after small wave causes chaos
A children's sailing lesson took an abrupt turn as a small wave crashed on top of them, causing their boats to capsize.
A group of six sail boats, with 12 children on board, were seen tumbling one by one at the mouth of Santa Cruz harbour late Sunday afternoon.
The Santa Cruz City Fire Department were alerted of the incident at 4.33pm, when they immediately deployed lifeguard crews to the water.
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A group of 12 young children rescued from capsized boats off the coast of California. 9News
Lifeguards initially reported 12 children in the water, with seven accounted for and five missing.
Crews were assisted by nearby surfers, swimmers and harbour patrol after the response was upgraded to an area-wide rescue request.
"We came right to the rescue right away and grabbed kids who were in most need," Shane Skelton, one of the rescuers, told NBC Bay Area.
The remaining children were located within 15 minutes, with one of the five previously been rescued by the harbor patrol.
A group of 12 young children rescued from capsized boats off the coast of California. 9News
No one was injured in the incident and all children were wearing life jackets.
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