A state police trooper and a good Samaritan combined to help eight people safely escape a boat that was sinking in a waterway last weekend in the Point Pleasant Canal.

The 26-foot boat was in the canal late Sunday afternoon when it began taking on water.

According to state police, the good Samaritan helped five people get from the boat to land, while the captain and two others stayed aboard as they tried to get the vessel.

Sgt. Michael Krauchuck soon arrived in a state police boat and eventually pulled the three remaining people on to the state police boat before the private vessel sank.