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Crew rescued from fishing vessel grounded off Scotland
Coastguard helicopter All 14 crew on board the Jack Abry II were airlifted in less than an hour
The crew of a French fishing boat grounded off the west coast of Scotland has been airlifted to safety in severe weather overnight.
The 14 men were winched on board the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter in gale force winds.
The vessel, the Jack Abry II, sent out a distress signal just before midnight, after hitting rocks on Rum.
The rescue operation took just under an hour. The crew were taken to the Fishermen's Mission in Stornoway.
An attempt will be made to tow the stricken boat later on Tuesday.
'Distress call'
Stornoway Coastguard received a distress call from the 46m Jack Abry II shortly after 2330 GMT on Monday.
It was listing onto rocks on the Isle of Rum in force 7/8 winds and heavy seas.
Mallaig Lifeboat and the Rum Coastguard Rescue Team were scrambled but the weather was too severe to attempt a lifeboat rescue.
The coastguard helicopter arrived at 0100 GMT and winched all 14 crew off the vessel in about 55 minutes.
Stornoway Coastguard watch manager David Smith said: "This was a very successful rescue of all 14 crewmen in what could have been different circumstances due to the severe weather conditions on scene."
Coastguard helicopter All 14 crew on board the Jack Abry II were airlifted in less than an hour
The crew of a French fishing boat grounded off the west coast of Scotland has been airlifted to safety in severe weather overnight.
The 14 men were winched on board the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter in gale force winds.
The vessel, the Jack Abry II, sent out a distress signal just before midnight, after hitting rocks on Rum.
The rescue operation took just under an hour. The crew were taken to the Fishermen's Mission in Stornoway.
An attempt will be made to tow the stricken boat later on Tuesday.
'Distress call'
Stornoway Coastguard received a distress call from the 46m Jack Abry II shortly after 2330 GMT on Monday.
It was listing onto rocks on the Isle of Rum in force 7/8 winds and heavy seas.
Mallaig Lifeboat and the Rum Coastguard Rescue Team were scrambled but the weather was too severe to attempt a lifeboat rescue.
The coastguard helicopter arrived at 0100 GMT and winched all 14 crew off the vessel in about 55 minutes.
Stornoway Coastguard watch manager David Smith said: "This was a very successful rescue of all 14 crewmen in what could have been different circumstances due to the severe weather conditions on scene."