“I got on the intercom and yelled, 'man overboard, man overboard,' and we rang the bells for the rescue boat,” Hotovitsky said.

Cathlamet Captain Al Davis sped the ferry toward the canoe while the crew got a rescue raft in the water and on its way to the teens.

VIDEO BACKSTORY: Ferry Boat Rescue

According to ferry workers, the teens were out of the water within five minutes.

“People drown, people really drown out in the sound, you know. You got 20 minutes, even when the weather is nice,” Hotovitsky said.

The 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl and their canoe were pulled on board the ferry.

“The chief mate chewed them out pretty good, I also told them how lucky they were and they just didn’t grasp, you know, they just didn’t grasp what went on,” Hotovitsky said.

“I’m up in the wheel house and I yelled at her, I said, ‘Hey the next time he asks you out on a date, you tell him to get a bigger boat or you stay at home,’” Hotovitsky said.