UPDATE: Chesapeake Bay Foundation boat sank on prohibited water

Members of the Coast Guard say they partnered with local law enforcement and a good Samaritan to rescue 23 people from a sunken vessel near Bloodsworth Island Wednesday.

Coast Guard officials say they received a mayday call from the Karen N., a 40-foot boat with 23 people on board.

Soon after, they say communications were lost.

It was then officials say boats from the Crisfield Coast Guard Station were dispatched to the area, and Maryland State Police sent two helicopters to the scene.

Following that, the Coast Guard says a good Samaritan arrived on scene, brought the 22 boaters aboard a vessel, transported them to Wingate pier to EMS personnel that were waiting nearby.

Officials say there was one person who needed medical attention that was airlifted to Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

We are told other injured personnel were reportedly transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center via ambulance.

Responding agencies included Maryland Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police, Dorchester County EMS and Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Authorities say all 23 on board were wearing life preservers, which they believe improved their ability to survive.

WJLA reports that the good samaritans were nearby crabbers, who took their fastest boat out to rescue the passengers. They report that the crabbers believe the boat struck an old sunken navy tank.

Coast Guard officials say the prohibited area is an old Navy range, called the Bloodsworth Island range.

According to cnic.navy.mil, From 1942 to 1995, the Navy used the range as a shore bombardment and bombing range for firing and dropping live ordnance from ships and aircraft. This included bombs, small and large caliber ammunition, rockets, and missiles that contained explosives, propellants, and other energetics.

They also report that it is unsafe to enter these areas due to the presence of unexploded devices, and anyone found within the prohibited areas can be prosecuted.