Updated 9.17am 27/09

THREE PEOPLE WERE rescued from a sinking 60 ft fishing trawler off the Cork Coast yesterday evening.

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at about 5.45 pm yesterday evening to help a 60 foot fishing boat that was sinking off the Seven Heads coastline in West Cork.

It launched immediately in response to the Mayday alert and managed to reach the boat at 6.40pm in poor conditions and with bad visibility.

The boat that was being rescued had been taking on water rapidly by the time the RNLI boat arrived.

The naval vessel LE Niamh also took part in the rescue as it was in the area. The Coastguard Helicopter was also tasked from Waterford.

By 7pm the lifeboat had succeeded in getting its pump onto the trawler to stop the intake of water onto the boat.

The damaged trawler was being towed at low-speed to the small fishing village of Union Hall in Co Cork.

After a long night at sea, the Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat pulled in around 1am.

“We are all pleased that this evening’s rescue was carried out efficiently by coxswain Sean O’Farrell and his voluntary crew of five including local farmer Colin Bateman who manned the mobile pump as he boarded the Fishing Vessel” said Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Voluntary Operations Manager Brian O Dwyer.

O’Dwyer also praised the fast response of the crew, saying “every minute gained was precious”.

No one is believed to have been harmed in the incident.

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