John Matthews
WMAL.com

SALISBURY , MD — (WMAL)  A charter boat with 22 people on board sank in the Chesapeake Bay near Bloodsworth Island in far southern Maryland Wednesday evening.

A spokeswoman for Maryland Natural Resources Police says a passing waterman managed to pull all of the victims – who were mostly children – out of the water before rescue boats arrived.

The boat’s captain had to be airlifted to a hospital in Salisbury, and some of the children were hospitalized, but their injuries are said to be minor.

The vessel apparently struck something under the water’s surface and began to sink immediately.

Police spokeswoman Candy Thomson told the Baltimore Sun the outcome could have been much worse.

“You put 22 people in the water and get 22 people out, that’s pretty amazing,” she said.

No word yet on what the boat may have struck.

Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: MD Natural Resources Police)