Two commercial fishermen became the first rescuers on scene after a three-level vessel sank in San Francisco Bay on July 14, pulling multiple people from the water before emergency crews arrived.

According to ABC News, commercial fishermen Mike Montoya and Justin Marceline had made a last-minute decision to go fishing when they spotted what appeared to be smoke or steam about two miles away. As they approached, they discovered a vessel rapidly sinking with passengers in the water and others trapped inside.

The fishermen told ABC they were the first to reach the scene and rescued eight or nine people before first responders arrived.

"She didn't have a lifejacket, and she was flailing, and I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up," Marceline said. "She told me she didn't want to die, and I told her, 'I'm not going to let you die.'"

Marceline said the vessel was already halfway underwater when they arrived, with people trapped inside as water quickly filled the cabin.

Montoya said the rescue was complicated by debris floating throughout the area.

"There was so much debris on the water and people and stuff everywhere," he told ABC. "I couldn't tell what was a person and what wasn't."

The fishermen also described the frustration of being unable to free people trapped behind a cabin window despite throwing heavy objects in an attempt to break the glass.

"It was a helpless feeling," Marceline said, later comparing the scene to "the Titanic in real life."

ABC reported that the vessel had been carrying 20 family members and friends who had gathered to scatter the ashes of a loved one. One person died after being pulled from the water, while 16 others were rescued. As of July 15, U.S. Coast Guard dive teams continued searching San Francisco Bay for three people who remained missing.

The report noted that sudden immersion in water below 60 degrees Fahrenheit can trigger cold water shock, causing people to lose dexterity within minutes and making escape from a sinking vessel significantly more difficult.