The fishermen had put out to sea from Devipattinam coastal hamlet in Ramanathapuram district last evening. Their boat capsized leaving them stranded for several hours waiting for help, they said.
However, a group of fishermen who were passing by managed to rescue Manikandan and Mohammed Ayub Khan and brought to the shore at Mandapam.
They were admitted to the goverment hospital, police said.
Mandapam Marine Police are carrying out search operations to locate Appavu.