A couple on a morning fishing expedition have come to the rescue of two men whose boat sank in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay.
Police received a call about 9.30am (AEST) on Thursday saying a boat was sinking off Seaford, but the caller hung up without giving many details and a police patrol couldn't find it.
John and Barbara Shipston were fishing in the area when they spotted a man in the distance trying to get their attention.
"Thank goodness he had enough strength left to put his arm up and wave," John Shipston told the Ten Network.
"We whizzed over to him.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"The fellow wasn't in a good way at all, he was very incoherent, very stiff, very cold."
The man managed to tell the couple his three fishing mates, which included a teenage boy, were also in trouble.
"We were still battling to bring the second fellow on when police arrived, he was still on the rear of the boat at that stage," Mr Shipston said.
The remaining two males swam near to shore where they were helped from the water by onlookers about 10.30am.
The four were taken to Frankston and Dandenong hospitals suffering hypothermia, one in a serious condition.
Senior sergeant Adrian Sinclair said the four were "extremely lucky".
"This time of year the water's very cold," he told the Ten Network.
Water Police are trying to find the boat and determine why it sank.
