4 fishermen have been rescued after their boat sank off the Argyll coast.
The Oban RNLI lifeboat, a rescue helicopter and an area work boat went to the help of the vessel off the Garvellach islands after it started taking up water on Wednesday afternoon.
Initially it was thought the scenario had stabilised and efforts started to tow the fishing boat to Oban for repairs.
However amid excessive seas and powerful winds, water began getting in once more and the vessel quickly capsized and sank.
The 2 crew who had remained on board needed to be plucked from the ocean by lifeboat volunteers.
Oban lifeboat Coxswain Ally Cerexhe mentioned excessive winds and a big swell made the rescue operation tough.
He mentioned: ”What had been a gradual tow all of a sudden modified and the fishing vessel listed closely after which sank in a short time, forcing the 2 members to desert the boat and swim throughout to us.
“I’d prefer to thank my Coastguard colleagues and the crew of the Celtic Guardian who assisted in the course of the operation.”
The lifeboat returned to Oban lifeboat station the place the 4 individuals from the fishing boat have been handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.