Four men were rescued today from a fishing boat which later sank in the Irish Sea, Liverpool Coastguard said.
The Audentia, registered in Co Down, radioed a mayday at 2 a.m. when it started taking on water 15 miles off the coast of the Isle of Man, a spokesman for the British coastguard said.
An RAF helicopter was scrambled from Anglesey and lifeboats were launched from Peel and Donghadee in Co Down.
But the men were rescued uninjured at 3 a.m. by the fishing boat Ben Loyalwhich reached the scene first. They were taken to Portvogie in Co Antrim, the spokesman said.
The boat sank an hour later.
He added: "The boat started taking water in the engine room, possibly through a damaged seal. The weather at the time was slight to moderate so we don't think that was a factor."
PA