Five fishermen have been rescued from their liferaft after their boat caught fire off the County Down coast.

The crew of Ocean Harvest 2 were 27 miles off Kilkeel when they put out a Mayday at 1215 today. Belfast Coastguard launched Kilkeeny and Clogerhead lifeboats, as well as Dublin helicopter R116. In rough seas and F6 south-easterlies, the helicopter managed to locate and recover the men from their liferaft.

Belfast Coastguard spokesman, Richard Newell, said ‘We are pleased that the five men have been successfully rescued. The fishermen have been taken back to Dublin and will be taken to hospital to be checked for the effects of smoke inhalation, but are otherwise safe and well.’