The RAF
helicopter plucked the three fishermen from life rafts and winched
them to safety unharmed about two hours after their ordeal began.
Dan McArdle, watch manager at Tyne Tees coastguards, said,
"This morning, the aircrew were able to locate the vessel's two
life rafts very quickly with their three crew safely aboard.
"They were all winched aboard the aircraft and were flown to
RAF Boulmer to be met by a local coastguard and brought back to
North Shields by road."
He said the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the UK
Hydrographic Office had been informed of the incident and wreck
site, but added: "We have no knowledge at this time why the
incident occurred."
"The weather locally was not too bad this morning with
easterly winds, force 5 with a moderate sea state."
