East Lyme — Firefighters and police joined together Wednesday to pull a man from the cold, choppy waters off McCook Point after his boat capsized.

Emergency dispatch received the report of a man in the water about 2:52 p.m.

East Lyme High School seniors Ryan Dumais and Lucas Johnson were at McCook Beach to film a project for their television news class and spotted the man offshore. At the time, Dumais said, the man was with his boat at a rock outcropping called Turtle Rock.

Several minutes later, Dumais said, they heard his cries for help. Johnson ran to the shoreline to check on the man while Dumais called 911. Help arrived minutes later.

Niantic Fire Chief John McDonald said the fire department's 17-foot Boston Whaler was first to reach the man, who was wearing a life vest and clinging to his dinghy-sized vessel.

The man was pulled out of the water and into the regional police patrol boat with the help of several East Lyme police officers.

The unidentified man, who was in the water for 15 to 20 minutes, was taken to a nearby yacht club where he was treated for hypothermia and then transferred to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

McDonald credited first responders' quick response for the successful rescue.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay