Boat capsizes near Ellis Island

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - A 15-foot boat capsized near Ellis Island Tuesday afternoon, sending six people into the waters of New York Harbor, officials said.

U.S. Park Police, Statue Cruises, NYPD, and emergency medical personnel quickly went into action and rescued two men and four girls from the water, according to Superintendent John Piltzecker of the National Park Service's Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island unit.

A deckhand with Statue Cruises, Kevin Suarez, jumped into the water to save a girl who was trapped under the capsized boat, Piltzecker said. Suarez was taken to Jersey City Hospital for some minor scrapes.

A police officer also jumped in the water to help the victims.

Ambulance crews on Ellis Island evaluated the boaters. They "all appear to be fine," Piltzecker said.

The Coast Guard is investigating.