Three men - believed to have been brothers - have died after their small vessel capsized off the County Waterford coast.
A rescue operation had been launched when the men failed to return from a fishing expedition this evening. It's understood the men left Dunmore East on an 18 foot punt at around midday.
When they didn't return after five, a search and rescue operation was launched, involving the Coastguard helicopter, lifeboats from Dunmore East and Tramore, and a local fishing vessel.
The helicopter quickly spotted the sunken punt in Tramore bay, with three casualties in the water nearby.
It's understood the men were wearing life jackets, but that all three had died.
Their bodies have been removed to Waterford Regional Hospital.
There was a swell in the area at the time, but the cause of the sinking is unknown.
The dead men are believed to have been brothers, and from County Waterford.
