Fire trawler under investigation

The trawler is heading to the port of Killybegs

A fishing vessel which caught fire off the coast of Donegal on Saturday is being examined by marine investigators.

A helicopter from Sligo, a lifeboat from Arranmore and an Irish naval vessel were sent to the rescue.

The trawler, Shark, moved under its own power but was accompanied by tug to Killybegs, where it has docked.

Ten of the 16-strong Spanish crew onboard the Scottish-registered vessel were airlifted off the boat after it got into trouble.

Irish naval staff extinguished two fires caused by an electrical fault in the trawler's accommodation area.

Derek Flanagan from the Irish Coastguard said lives could have been lost.

"It could have been very serious if the naval service hadn't gotten there very quickly," he said.

"We were also quite lucky that the weather was very good at the time.

"If the weather conditions were different and the weather was bad, it could have been a very different outcome."