Three fishermen were hoisted from a life raft onto a Navy helicopter early Friday morning 161 miles southwest of Kona after abandoning their sinking fishing vessel.

The fishermen, who had abandoned the 41-foot commercial vessel Vicious Cycle and sent out an emergency radio call at 7:53 p.m. Thursday, had used flares and a flashing light to signal a Coast Guard C-130 rescue aircraft. For unknown reasons, the ship had begun taking on water. The Coast Guard will investigate.

Also participating in the rescue were the Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley, which was diverted from a course to its home port in Kodiak, Alaska; and the fishing vessel Princess K.

The aircrew from Kaneohe Bay’s Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 hoisted the fishermen aboard an MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter at 2:30 a.m. and transported them to Kalaeloa Airport, from where they were taken to the Queen’s Medical Center for evaluation. The men were treated for mild hypothermia by local Emergency Medical Services personnel.