Pleasure boat sinks as family rescued

A man and his two young children have been rescued after their pleasure craft got into difficulty off the coast of Courtown in north Wexford.

The craft began taking in water shortly before 3pm and was going down fast.

The rescue operation was launched when a local man walking along the beach noticed the small boat in distress a mile offshore.

On board the craft, the worried family could only scream and wave brightly coloured clothing for help.

The boat was not kitted out for emergencies; it had no flares or radio equipment. All three people were rescued successfully by the Courtown lifeboat.

However, the pleasure craft which they had purchased just days before, sank as it was towed back to the harbour.

The man and his family, who are originally from Bray in Co Wicklow, have been living in north Wexford for a short time.