Fishermen were in 'imminent danger'

The men, who are understood to live locally, were out in a 14ft boat on Saturday at around 3.30pm when weather conditions deteriorated.

The men managed to navigate the boat through gale force eight conditions to reach cages kept in the sea by a salmon farm.

Paddy McLaughlin from the Red Bay RNLI, which helped in the rescue operation, said: "It could have been a very different outcome.

"When we got to the men they were traumatised by what had happened and very cold and wet."

Mr McLaughlin said the men, all in their 30s, "had been caught out by the weather".

"But they were lucky enough that they managed to get onto the cage and dial 999 for help. That is when we got involved," he said.

A lifeboat crew brought them to safety before towing their boat ashore.

The rescue operation was co-ordinated by Belfast Coastguard.