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The six fishermen from the ' Virgem do Sameiro', missing for three days, were rescued by an Air Force helicopter from an RFD liferaft 12 miles off the coast north of Cape Mondego.

The liferaft, an 8 person RFD Seasava liferaft which was purchased for the Fishing vessel just two months ago,  was spotted by the Air Force helicopter and the sailors were onshore shortly afterwards at Monte Real Air Base. They were attended to by a team from the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (INEM).

The search had been ongoing almost 24 hours with the ocean patrol ship Viana do Castelo and an Air Force C295 as families waited for a miracle.

You can view the incredible video footage of the rescue, here on Portugal's Daily News (Diário de Notícias) website:

Clip 1:

Clip 2:

One is considerably weaker than his shipmates, but the director of the receiving hospital in Leiria told reporters that the six men are generally well and there is no cause for alarm.

The men, all suffering from a degree of malnutrition, were  joined by relatives at the hospital along with the Secretary of State for Sea, Manuel Pinto de Abreu "I bring a message of satisfaction from the Minister, Assunção Cristas, for the happy outcome of this incident”, he said, continuing “We are proud to have seen the search and rescue team's success in this mission."