Big Island rescue personnel picked up two people from their overturned 12-foot aluminum boat this morning near Coconut Island in Hilo Bay.

A fire helicopter deployed two specialists into the water at 10:56 a.m. and picked up the victims, who were not injured.

They told firefighters that they had been clinging to the hull of the overturned boat for about an hour. A person on shore observed their plight with binoculars and reported the incident.

The fire rescue boat righted the overturned boat and towed it to Reeds Bay.