Fourteen people have been airlifted to safety from a French fishing trawler that ran aground off the Kerry coast this morning.
The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard rotor and fixed wing search and rescue aircraft were both involved in the dramatic rescue operation which was mounted at around 11.30am.
The fishing trawler was reported to have run aground after suffering engine failure shortly after departing from Dingle Harbour. The French registered ‘Fastnet’ drifted onto the shoreline between Dingle Lighthouse and Binn Bán beach sparking a major search and rescue operation.
Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry mounted the multi-agency rescue mission.
The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter – Rescue 115 – along with a Beech 200 fixed-wing aircraft – Rescue 120F – were scrambled to the scene along with the Dingle unit of the Coast Guard and Valentia RNLI all-weather lifeboat.
A total of fourteen crew members have been airlifted in two groups to safety by Rescue 115. There are no reports of injuries.
There were strong winds and rough seas reported in the area at the time.
The Irish Coast Guard will continue to monitor the vessel in case of a risk of pollution.
