One man has died and a second man is in a serious condition after an incident on-board a Spanish fishing vessel off the south Kerry coast.
The fatal event on-board the Novo Alborado occurred shortly after 9am on Thursday and about 30 nautical miles off Valentia.
A rope is understood to have snapped as nets were being hauled in.
The Novo Alborado is one of a number of Spanish and French vessels currently fishing off the Porcupine Bank and the Kerry coast in search of prawn, monk and whitefish.
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The dead man is in his 30s and the injured man has been brought to Cork University Hospital where he is in a stable but serious condition.
Valentia’s coast guard marine rescue centre co-ordinated the rescue operation after Madrid Marine Rescue Coordination Centre contacted it requesting a medical evacuation.
Conditions at sea were challenging, with swells of five and six metres.
Two helicopters and the coast guard’s fixed-wing plane were involved, while a lifeboat was on standby, the coastguard in Valentia said.
The deceased had died on board and the injured man was brought by helicopter to hospital. The body of the dead man is being brought to Castletownbere in west Cork.
The men’s nationalities are not yet clear.
Timmy Dooley, Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, said he was deeply saddened by the tragic incident.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder of the dangers faced daily by those who work at sea, and of the bravery and skill of the men and women who protect them,” he said.
