04/03/2008

Fishermen Rescued By Helicopter

The coastguard has rescued seven men after their fishing boat ran into trouble off the North Coast.

Two lifeboats and the Irish Coastguard helicopter joined the Mulroy Coatguard cliff and rescue team to perform the rescue operation at 3.30am on Tuesday.

Their boat, the Horizon, hit rocks at Saldana Point in Lough Swilly, the men had to be winched off the rocks and were taken to Altnagelvin Hospital, suffering from hypothermia and shock.

Duty Watch Officer Dara O'Malley-Daly said: "The lifeboats got to the scene first. The fishing boat had gone onto rocks. But because of the severe weather conditions, the boats were not able to effect a rescue.

"They had to be winched off the rocks by the helicopter. It was a precarious and dangerous rescue."

(DW/JM)

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