Six people were rescued within six minutes of making a distress call to report their boat was sinking off the coast of Donegal yesterday.
Malin Head coast guard centre received a 999 call at 4.31pm from a person on board an 18-foot cruiser who reported it was taking on water and was sinking off Port na Blagh near Dunfanaghy in Donegal.
The centre relayed a Mayday call to all vessels in the area and received two responses three minutes later from a rib, the Blue Haven and a fishing vessel, the Jena.
The centre also alerted a Sligo-based helicopter that was in Knock at the time of the call.
Six minutes after receiving the Mayday call the Blue Haven rescued four adults and two children, who were all wearing life jackets, from the water after the boat sank.
The rib proceeded to Port na Blath in Sheephaven Bay. The youngest child (4) was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital for assessment.