Five fishermen rescued after vessel blaze

Five fishermen were plucked from the sea on Wednesday after abandoning their burning boat 50 miles north-west of Stromness.

The crew of the Banff-registered Onward sent out a mayday call after getting into trouble at around 1.30pm. The Shetland Coastguard helicopter R102, was first on the scene and airlifted the men to safety.

They had jumped into liferafts to escape the blaze and were taken to the Balfour Hospital, in Kirkwall, where they were being treated for the effects of hypothermia last night.