A dozen people were rescued by police early Thursday after they called 9-1-1 when one of the two boats they were on took on water on the Schuylkill River in southwest Philadelphia.

According to Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, officers received a 911 call around 12:30 a.m. Thursday from one of the boaters who reported that they were in a boat on the Schuylkill River at the Platt Bridge and that water was taking on water.

“We immediately dispatched our air unit and helicopter and they were able to locate the boat on the Schuylkill River, not far from the Platt Bridge,” Small told NBC10 crews on the scene early Thursday. “We immediately deployed the fire department’s marine unit and the Coast Guard.”

Small said the rescued people – all in their 20s and 30s, he said – were heading out on the river in two boats for a party when one of them began taking on water.

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He said the city’s fire department’s marine unit, along with the coast guard, managed to get all 12 people from the boats to shore without injuries.

He also noted that the individuals did the right thing by immediately contacting police and staying together when one of the boats began to sink.

“Everyone on board these two small boats is OK, they are doing well,” Small said.

When everyone was on land, Small said, the boat had not completely sunk, but it had filled with water.

Small said officials plan to tow at least one of the boats.