Coast Guard helicopter crews yesterday rescued a man minutes after he reported that his 12-foot boat was sinking about four miles southwest of Moloka'i.

Information on the man's name or where he is from was not immediately available, but he did not appear to have suffered any injuries, according to Coast Guard Lt. (j.g.) Peter Gavin.

The boater contacted Coast Guard Sector Honolulu on VHF-FM radio at 2:47 p.m.

The Coast Guard dispatched two HH-65 rescue helicopters from Air Station Barbers Point and diverted the Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island from a routine patrol to assist.

The helicopters reached the sinking vessel within 13 minutes and a rescue basket was lowered to pluck the man from the boat.

He was taken to Air Station Barbers Point, then by ambulance to a hospital to be checked.

"This mariner actually saved himself," said Gavin, a search-and-rescue specialist. "He had on his life jacket, first and foremost, then he contacted us on the marine band radio to let us know where he was. We just came along and gave him a ride."

There were no reports of fuel or other pollutants leaking from the sinking vessel.