FOUR FISHERMEN had a lucky escape when their boat caught fire at sea yesterday evening.
The four were fishing on board the Handa Isle, a 40ft fishing vessel, when its engine caught fire four miles off Tory Island off the coast of Co Donegal.
The men, who are based in Magheroarty in west Donegal, managed to bring the blaze under control, but the boat was left floating adrift at sea.
They managed to contact the Malin Head Coast Guard at about 4.15pm, and both the Arranmore lifeboat and the Sligo-based search and rescue helicopter were sent to the scene.
The helicopter arrived first, closely followed by the lifeboat, which towed the boat to Burtonport Harbour, arriving at 7.45pm. Another fishing vessel, the Sligo-registered Cando, accompanied the Handa Isle to port.
Members of the Dungloe Fire Service met the stricken vessel when it docked, at which stage it was still smouldering, and examined its engine room.
The helicopter was put on standby and flew to Carrickfin Airport to refuel.
None of the four men on board were injured. Nora Flanagan, from the Arranmore Lifeboat, said: “Thank God everyone is safe and accounted for. The trawler fishes out of Bunbeg and got into difficulties 4.5 miles west of Tory. The lifeboat crew was able to establish that the fire could be contained, and between them and the Sligo rescue helicopter, the fire was put out.
“The fishing trawler was towed back to Burtonport with the crew still aboard and arrived at 7.30pm.
“We had a fire crew on standby on shore just to check over the boat. Everyone is delighted that this emergency call has had a happy ending.”
Local county councillor David Alcorn said: “Thank God everyone is safe. The emergency services, as usual, were first class.”