An injured sailor is recovering in hospital in Limerick today after an air rescue hundreds of kilometres off the Irish coast.
Four British and US aircraft were scrambled to save the stricken seaman after he was injured following a 15 metre fall into the hold of a cargo ship on Tuesday night.
The Liberian-registered cargo vessel Anna Rickmers, was about 1,000 kilometres south west off the Irish coast when the incident was reported. Rescue helicopters had to wait several hours until the ship was within range before they could reach it.
The Burmese sailor, who received spinal and head injuries in the fall, was winched into a helicopter and flown to Shannon, where he arrived at around 10.30pm.
He was taken by ambulance to the Midwestern Regional Hospital in Limerick.
His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.