Seven people and a dog rescued from burning boat in Gulf of Mexico near Gulfport

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued seven people and a dog from a boat that had caught Saturday morning in the Gulf of Mexico near Gulfport.

The Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a mayday call at 9:26 a.m. of a 45-foot boat on fire, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

A Coast Guard air crew arrived first and deployed a rescue life raft.

Watchstanders then worked with the Coast Guard Station Gulfport to send a 45-foot Response Boat that rescued the boaters and the dog.

“The prudent actions of those aboard the Hatteras – hailing mayday to the Coast Guard and all personnel wearing life jackets, coupled with the quick actions of the aircrew deploying the life raft, ultimately allowed the Coast Guard to bring all seven back to shore safely,” said Sector Mobile search and rescue mission coordinator Lt. Cmdr. Kathleen Sullivan in the press release.

All seven people are in stable condition.

A Ship Island Excursions tour also saw the fire and responded to the scene to help, they said on Facebook.