An Irish Coast Guard helicopter. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA
A total of 12 crew members have been rescued from a fishing vessel off the south west coast of Cork.
The Irish Coast Guard at Valentia Marine Rescue Coordination Centre received a ‘Mayday’ alert before 6am this morning from ‘Radoche Tercero’, the vessel which was at sea.
Along with the Irish Coast Guard in Valentia, the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter, the Coast Guard Fixed wing 120F, and both the Castletownbere and Baltimore lifeboats, were called to duty.
The crew of 12 persons had evacuated to a life raft, and were picked up safely by the fishing vessel ‘Punteareas Uno.’
They are currently being escorted by the Castletownbere lifeboat and have not required any medical attention.
The Irish Coast Guard at Valentia Marine Rescue Coordination Centre are currently in the final phase of the rescue operation, 53 nautical miles south west of Dursey head, Co Cork.
The vessel with the rescued crew members are due alongside the pier at Castletownbere at approximately 3.30pm.