Shortly before 5am this morning Valentia Coast Guard received an emergency call from a 21-metre fishing vessel reporting that it was aground on the northern side of Inis Mór, on the Aran Islands. 

Shannon-based Coast Guard Helicopter R115, Aran Islands lifeboat, and North Aran Coast Guard Unit were all tasked to the scene. 

All  five crew initially abandoned the vessel into a life raft. They were subsequently winched to safety by R115 with the Aran Islands life boat standing by and were transferred to University Hospital Galway by R115.  

The five-person crew were reported to be in good spirits after their ordeal.