TWO fishermen are lucky to be alive today after their boat capsized off Portland Bill.

The men were airlifted to hospital by coastguards after their vessel, called the Aleyna, ‘suddenly’ sank.

Crew on the nearby fishing boat Girl Debra plucked the men from the water and raised the alarm.

Portland Coastguard watch officer John Braisher said the men, who were treated for hypothermia at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, were lucky to have been rescued.

He said: “Water temperatures are around 12 degrees at this time of year and the men, who are in their mid-30s, were not wearing immersion suits.

“Survivability in those temperatures is less than an hour so they were extremely lucky to have been seen.”

A coastguard spokesman said the Brixham-based 14-metre fishing Aleyna capsized ‘suddenly’ 20 miles south west of Portland Bill yesterday morning.

He said coastguards and HMS Bulwark, which was operating in the area, were scrambled following a mayday call from the Girl Debra.

Mr Braisher said: “It really was a stroke of luck that the Girl Debra actually witnessed the Alyena turn over right in front of her.

“The Girl Debra detached its fishing gear in order to pick the men out of the water, by which time the coastguard helicopter was on the scene to airlift the men to hospital.

“The helicopter was scrambled immediately after receiving the mayday call and was on the scene within 14 minutes.

“The Exmouth and Torbay lifeboats were also scrambled and HMS Bulwark stayed on the scene until they arrived.

“The lifeboats collected floating debris and the life-raft from the capsized vessel and the Girl Debra also recovered its gear from the water.”

He added: “The Aleyna sank very quickly after capsizing and the incident has been reported to the Marine Accident Investig-ation Branch.

“The crew of the Girl Debra acted really fast and we wish to thank them for their assistance.

“Had she not been there to see the vessel go down then those men may not have been seen at all.”

Mr Braisher said HMS Bulwark was called to assist because it has a flat landing deck and medical facilities that could have provided immediate medical support if needed.

The Aleyna is registered in Jersey and its crew was fishing when it capsized.