Three missing after fishing boat sinks off Scottish coast

Three sailors are missing and one has been taken to hospital after a fishing boat sank off the Western Isles of Scotland.

The coastguard received a distress alert just before 3.45am on Saturday, and the vessel's emergency positioning beacon was activated near Mingulay.

The vessel went down with four crew on board, but one was rescued and taken to hospital by helicopter.

A lifeboat and helicopter remain at the scene so the search can continue.

A Maritime & Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said the vessel went down in relatively calm weather conditions.

She said: "In the early hours of April 9 a fishing vessel sank off the Western Isles, Scotland, with four crew on board.

"The UK Coastguard received a distress alert just before 3.45 this morning when the fishing vessel's emergency positioning beacon (EPIRB) was activated near Mingulay.

"The coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway has been searching the area along with the Barra RNLI lifeboat.

"One crew member has been taken to hospital by the helicopter.

"The lifeboat remains in the area and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick has taken over so the search can continue."