In Pictures: HMS Bulwark Rescues Migrants

The Royal Navy's HMS Bulwark has rescued 110 migrants from a sinking rubber boat.

Currently patrolling the Mediterranean the UK's Flagship responded to a mayday call along with two Italian vessels.

After steaming for four hours HMS Bulwark sighted the stricken vessel just 40 miles off the Libyan coast and launched two of her specially converted landing craft to pick up survivors.

Within 30 minutes everyone was safely taken off the dinghy before it sank.

After receiving initial treatment the migrants were transferred to an Intalian Coastguard cutter to be taken ashore. 

HMS Bulwark's Commanding Officer, Captain Nick Cooke-Priest hailed the mission as a complete success.

"We set out on Operation Weald to save lives and lessen suffering and that's exactly what my highly professional crew of sailors and marines have done."

Italian speaking Leading Writer Fernanda Agostini was one of those on the landing craft to help with the rescue and provide translation skills. 

"Some of them were clearly distressed.. They were obviously relieved to get on to the landing craft, where their morale picked up. Afterwards we went up to their boat before it sank.. Conditions were not pleasant and the smell was horrendous."

To prepare for Operation Weald, Bulwark was kitted out with extra lifejackets, food and medical supplies as well as 1,300 pairs of shoes, 700 sweatshirts, 800 blankets, portable toilets and showers, and hundreds of pairs of tracksuit bottoms. 

Along with her three Merlin helicopters she'll soon be joined by two Border Force cutters, Protector and Seeker, which are currently on their way from the UK.