Fishermen rescued after boat sinks in Mississippi

Beltrami County authorities say two fisherman have been found exhausted but safe after their boat sank in the Mississippi River.

The sheriff's office identified the men Monday as 69-year-old William Wright of Northome and 61-year-old David Wright of Brainerd.

After their boat sank Friday afternoon they began walking in the woods, where they became lost. They trudged for three hours through swamps with high heat and humidity before they picked up cell-phone reception.

Rescuers used sirens to help guide the men to them. The pair finally found rescuers after another 90 minutes of walking. Both were covered with bug bites and one was nearly collapsed from dehydration.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Beryl Wernberg they were lucky to get cell-phone reception in such a barren area.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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