TWO fishermen have been dramatically rescued off the Kerry coast after their fishing boat was engulfed in flames.
The alarm was raised by Valentia Coast Guard radio at 12.26pm this afternoon.
A Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched to go to the assistance of the vessel, which had to be abandoned south of Derrynane.
The two men on board were forced to take to their liferaft after the boat caught fire and began taking on water.
The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Dan Noonan, was assisted by Shannon-based Rescue helicopter 115, Derrynane Inshore Rescue Boat and Ballinskelligs lnshore Rescue.
Two local boats, ‘Orchid’ and ‘Stephanie’, stood by to offer assistance.
The two fisherman, who were both uninjured, were successfully rescued and transferred from the Ballinskelligs lnshore Rescue boat to the Castletownbere Lifeboat.
They arrived back Castletownbere at approximately 3.45pm this afternoon.
