According to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the men were fishing in the Mendota Slough Monday night when their boat began taking on water. As the men tried to make their way back to shore, the boat flipped over, leaving them in the water without life vests.
Officials say since neither of the men could swim, they held onto the boat and yelled for help. "We heard it, and we walked closer, and asked them 'You guys need help?' They said 'yeah our boat flipped over'... grabbed my phone and dialed 911," said Jerry Fang, witness.
"It's actually very shallow. Another 10 feet and they would have been able to stand up because they couldn't swim, their clothes were wet and weighting them down. They were afraid to let go and try -- which was probably the thing best for them," said Erich Garringer, Fresno County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office said the men went fishing around 7 p.m. Monday night, but the 911 call to rescue them from the water didn't come in until about 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Both men were checked out at the scene and are said to be fine.
