Fishermen airlifted in sea rescue

A major search got under way in the Irish Sea

Five County Down fishermen have been airlifted to safety after their boat caught fire in the Irish Sea.

The crew reported a blaze in the engine room just before 1215 GMT. They abandoned the Kilkeel-based craft and managed to get onto a life-raft.

The rescue operation involved Kilkeel and Clogherhead lifeboats and an Irish Coastguard helicopter.

Four of the men are reported to be in good health. One of them is said to be suffering from smoke inhalation.

The men are being taken to hospital in Drogheda.

Alan McVeigh from Kilkeel lifeboat explained what happened to the fishing vessel, Ocean Harvest Two.

"Kilkeel lifeboat was launched shortly before 1230 GMT to go to the assistance of a Kilkeel fishing trawler 25 miles off the coast which reported its engine room on fire," he said.

The rescue helicopter R116 from Dublin was immediately scrambled, as was Clogerhead lifeboat and Kilkeel inshore lifeboat Hamish Brownlee

"The crew of the fishing trawler had abandoned ship and had gone on board a life raft."

He said the weather conditions were very bad, with heavy fog and a choppy sea.

He added: "They managed to get off the boat very quickly and into the life raft to await the emergency services' arrival."

The rescue effort was co-ordinated by Belfast Coastguard.

Hamish Brownlee of Brigends House in Bangor, from where the rescue was directed, said the mayday message said the crew "were taking to their life-raft immediately".

"The rescue helicopter R116 from Dublin was immediately scrambled, as was Clogerhead lifeboat and Kilkeel inshore lifeboat," he said.

"The helicopter was able to locate the life-raft very quickly and winched the five crew men aboard, who were all safe and well, bar one who had inhaled some smoke."

Richard Newell of Belfast Coastguard said: "We are pleased that the five men have been successfully rescued.

"The fishermen have been taken back to Dublin and will be taken to hospital to be checked for the effects of smoke inhalation, but are otherwise safe and well."