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THREE men have died following a fire and explosion on a fishing trip off the Southern coast of Ireland last night.
Fire broke out on the vessel Castaway which had gone out into Bantry Bay in west Cork. The names of the dead have yet to be released, but one is a local man and the other two are Europeans, one of them German. A fourth member of the crew - thought to be an American - has survived. His condition is not thought to be life threatening and it is hoped in the next couple of days he may be able to give some clue as to what happened.
The men had gone out earlier what is believed to be a pleasure fishing trip rather than a commercial fishing operation. One theory being investigated is that the fuel tanks on board the 25 foot long vessel exploded after a fire broke out on board. Sea conditions were calm at the time, although there was some fog but it is not thought that this contributed to the incident.
A full rescue alert was put into operation including the launch of an RNLI lifeboat and an Irish Coastguard helicopter. When the rescue services arrived on the scene they found the boat on fire.
The incident has shaken the local fishing community. This part of Ireland is popular with recreational fishermen particularly during the summer holiday months.The Irish Marine Casualty Investigation Board has said it will carry out an investigation into the incident. A spokesman for the RNLI said that the local community was shocked at the scale of the tragedy.
Footnote: An RAF helicopter was lauanched off the North Devon coast after two men from Swansea got into difficulties on a fishing trip yesterday. However, they later swam ashore apparently shaken, but unharmed.
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