A Quebec man navigating Lake Champlain struck a known reef near Sunset Island on Friday afternoon, prompting a multi-agency rescue response and the safe recovery of all four people aboard the damaged vessel.

Colchester police say that at about 3:28 p.m. on July 25, the Colchester Police Marine Unit received a distress call relayed by U.S. Coast Guard Station Burlington, reporting that a vessel with four occupants was taking on water south of Sunset Island.

Colchester Technical Rescue, Colchester Rescue Squad, and the Colchester Fire Department were immediately dispatched to assist, alongside a Coast Guard unit.

Ten minutes later, the Colchester Police Marine Unit arrived at the scene and found a 26-foot boat rapidly taking on water. Officers transferred all four individuals to the police vessel. No injuries were reported.

Three of the passengers were taken safely to shore, while the vessel’s captain, 57-year-old Normand St. Pierre of Quebec, remained aboard to coordinate salvage efforts. St. Pierre told authorities he was en route from Canada to Burlington and believed he had cleared all hazards when he struck Hogback Reef, a submerged hazard southwest of Sunset Island.

One of the passengers reported seeing a buoy marked with the word “Danger” near the reef.

The damaged boat was towed to Champlain Marina by Burlington Harbor Launch and Tow, where it was lifted from the lake to prevent it from sinking due to hull damage sustained in the crash.