An inquest into the deaths of five fishermen when their trawler sank off the West Cork coast last year, continues today.

Yesterday, the sole survivor of the Tit Bonhomme fishing tragedy gave evidence about the night of the ill-fated voyage.

Abdelbaky Mohamed's five crewmates, including the trawler's skipper, died when it sank in Glandore Harbour on the 15th January 2012.

Two emergency calls made from the French registered vessel were also played in court.

Abdelbaky Mohamed's evidence

Abdelbaky Mohamed was a member of the crew along with his brother Wael Mohamad, Attaia Shaban, Saied Ali Eldin, Kevin Kershaw and the skipper Michael Hayes.

Abdul recalled being woken by a bang and the crew made their way to the wheel house where they dialled 999 and put on life jackets. They were unable to reach the rafts as the conditions were so rough and the boat was being rocked and twisted in all directions by the waves.

He was washed out to sea and the force of the water ripped off his clothes and life jacket. However he managed to grab on to the belt of the jacket, which he admitted saved his life.

Abdul estimates that he was in the water for 3 to 4 hours before reaching Glandore shore, where he was exhausted and extremely cold.

He was rescued by helicopter which rushed him to Cork University Hospital. The search continued for 27 days until the remaining five bodies were found at different points in the sea.