FIVE Irish fishermen were rescued when their fishing boat sank 25 miles off the Donegal coast yesterday afternoon.
The men, from the Malin Head/ Glengad area, were picked up by the Foyle fishery protection vessel, the Lough Bradan.
The men had spent about 50 minutes in a life raft after their own vessel, the Father Brendan, sank. The men were transferred to an RAF Sea King helicopter and taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, suffering from mild hypothermia.
It is believed the accident happened when an on-board crane snapped and fell through the bottom of the vessel, sinking it in minutes.
It was then 15 miles south-west of the Scottish island of Islay, and the crew managed to send a May-day call to Malin Head Marine Rescue and to set off several distress flares before taking to the life raft.
One flare was spotted by Lough Bradan crew, who rushed to the area and pulled the five crew members aboard.
RAF Lieut Jules Price, who winched the crew off the Foyle vessel, said one man was suffering from severe hypothermia. "Four of them had managed to get into a life raft. One was initially in the water and was pulled, in by the other crew members.
Clyde Marine Rescue in western Scotland said weather conditions had been fine when the accident happened, with light winds, smooth seas and good visibility.
Meanwhile, Mr Alan McKinney, accident and emergency consultant at Altnagelvin Hospital, said all five men were discharged after treatment.
The Department of Marine is to investigate the incident.