South Carolina Water Taxi Crew Saves Drowning Man

— -- A day at sea for those aboard a South Carolina water taxi turned into a dramatic race for survival after the taxi-goers spotted a man unconscious in the water.

The taxi was passing through Charleston Harbor on Saturday when it heard the mayday call that a man on another boat had fallen into the water. The 28-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous, told ABC News he fell off a sailboat after having a seizure.

Capt. Matt Balassone was guiding the water taxi with eight passengers on board when he heard the distress call. His water taxi arrived to the scene even before emergency response crews and immediately jumped into action.

“We put the hammer down and got there as quick as we could,” Balassone told ABC News.

A video posted on the water taxi company’s Facebook page Monday shows the taxi's crew members joining the man’s friends in desperately trying to get him out of the water and onto the boat.

One of the crew members who helped pull the man onboard the water taxi had just started his first day on the job.

“It was go time,” said Robert Schulze.

Schulze, Balassone and the other crew members pulled both the man and his two friends out of the water and tended to him as others on the boat called 911 for help.

Balassone drove the water taxi back to the boat slip, where they were met by emergency crews. The man was treated at a local hospital and is fine.

“We’re in the business of showing people a good time, that’s what we’re known for,” Balassone said. “But working on the water, that can change real quick."