CHRISTMAS, Fla. -- A popular Central Florida tourist attraction faces fines this weekend after a tour boat filled with children and other riders began to take on water and sink in alligator-infested water.

Officials said a boat at Jungle Adventures Nature Park in Christmas was carrying more than 12 people Saturday when it broke down during the tour.

"All of the sudden, water started coming in through the rear and the guide told us to shift to the front, right side of the boat," rider Evangelo Mondo said. "We had gators out there. We were all very scared the water started coming in."

Witnesses said the guide instructed the riders to stay in the front of the vessel while he got a pole and began pushing the boat back to shore.

Orange County fire crews arrived at the park and helped with the rescue effort, according to WKMG-TV in Orlando.

"I don't know about those particular alligators but if they hand feed them as part of the show it could be dangerous," Orange County fire Cpl. Richard Jones said. "Any kind of splash they can associate with food and you do have snake issues anywhere in Florida.

The Orange County marine unit found the boat in disrepair and officials told WKMG there were no life jackets on board of the boat.

"In the respect that we had children on board, (and) we had no lifejackets for anybody, should somebody have gone off there," Jones said. "In four feet of water most could have walked to shore, but some of the younger children couldn't."

The cruise ride was closed after the incident Saturday. It was not known when the ride would reopen.