JINAN - Seven fishermen on two boats were rescued on Saturday off east China after their boats lost control in high gales, local rescue sources said.

The engine of a fishing boat with six people aboard at the Bajiao offshore area near Yantai city, Shandong Province stopped working around 1:20 p.m. Saturday as its screw propeller was enlaced by aquatic plants amid sudden gales on the sea.

A helicopter from the Beihai No. 1 Rescue Flying Squad was dispatched to the site and rescued the six in 20 minutes. The helicopter saved another fisherman on a separate boat on its way back.

All the rescued fishermen were sent to Penglai, an island city near Yantai, Saturday afternoon.