An injured man was airlifted to hospital today from a fishing boat operating off the Co Kerry coast.
The Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to assist the man who was a crew member on the UK registered Achieve, which was located 110 miles southwest of the Blasket Islands.
The helicopter reached the scene at about 2.30pm. The man was airlifted to Tralee Regional hospital, arriving at about 4.30pm.
His injuries were said to be serious.
The incident was the fourth occasion the Shannon Coast Guard helicopter was called into action this week.
It collected an injured crew member from a vessel named the Nuvo Jundino which was also operating near the Blasket Islands.
This followed the rescue of five women from the Aran Islands on Tuesday and its involvement in assisting the crew of the Rambler 100 which got into difficult off Baltimore in Co Cork while participating in the Fastnet Race on Monday.