Crew airlifted from fishing vessel

Three crew have been airlifted from an Irish fishing vessel that got into difficulties off the south-west coast, a Navy spokesperson said today.

The Shannon coastguard helicopter plucked the crew from the stricken vessel, 30 miles off the west Cork coast, after it began to take on water.

The captain remained on board to pump out water with a pump provided by the Castletownbere lifeboat which was launched to assist.

Naval vessel the LE Ciara is at the scene and on standby to aid in the operation if required, the spokesperson said.

There were no immediate reports of injures and the name of the vessel has not been released.