Hopes are fading for five people missing after a trawler went down off the west Cork coast.

A survivor was pulled from the sea close to Union Hall Harbour, where the 21m (69ft) Tit Bonhomme was thought to have struck rocks early yesterday.

The Irish-registered vessel got into difficulties beside the Adam and Eve islands, outside the harbour.

The crew made a distress call to the Coastguard at around 6am, but it was cut off and all radio contact was lost. It is understood the captain is Irish.

Coastguard helicopters from Shannon and Waterford were scrambled to the scene, while lifeboats from Courtmacsherry and Baltimore were launched.

The survivor found in the water at around 8am has been taken to Cork University Hospital. Five other crew are still missing.

Strong winds and heavy seas which were hampering the search and rescue mission have calmed.

Vincent O'Donovan, of Courtmacsherry Lifeboat station, said the Tit Bonhomme had taken a battering in the rough waters.

"It was force seven to eight, and it was a south-east wind, which causes difficulties off that coast," he said.

The lifeboat launched shortly after 6am and spotted debris in the water close to the harbour.