Naval Service crew members are understood to have received medical treatment after getting into difficulties while trying to board a fishing trawler.

The Irish Examiner understands the injured boarding party of five members were in a RHIB (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat) which had been dispatched from the LÉ William Butler Yeats on Tuesday night to inspect the fishing boat which was off the Co Cork coast.

The RIB is believed to have capsized during the operation and a second RHIB was dispatched from the navy’s offshore patrol vessel to rescue them.

It is understood five personnel received medical treatment, with one believed to have been kept in hospital due to suspected broken ribs.

A spokesman for the Defence Forces press office said they were aware of an incident involving a Naval Service RHIB.

In a statement, the press office said: "All personnel that were on board the RHIB are safe and well. The Defence Forces does not comment on matters of an operational nature."

More on the incident here.