Five Down fishermen rescued after fire on trawler

Five fishermen had to be winched to safety by a Coastguard helicopter today after their boat caught fire in the Irish Sea

Five fishermen had to be winched to safety by a Coastguard helicopter today after their boat caught fire in the Irish Sea

The men, based in Kilkeel, Co Down, were forced to abandon their trawler, the  Ocean Harvest II, when flames engulfed the engine room.

A major air and sea rescue operation was launched while the crew took to a life raft.

An Irish Coastguard helicopter was first to reach the scene, 27 miles south east of the Co Down coastline.

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All five men were lifted to safety amid thick fog. Four of them were said to be in uninjured while one received treatment for smoke inhalation.

Lifeboats from Clogherhead and Kilkeel Inshore Lifeboat were also scrambled during the emergency.