The Irish Naval vessel the Le Samuel Beckett has recovered 5 bodies from the Mediterranean in an operation off Tripoli this morning.

They died when their rubber dinghy sank during the rescue of 118 migrants.

The crew of the Samuel Beckett has been in the Mediterranean since September and so far they have been involved in the rescue of more than 1,000 people.

Early this morning the Italian mMaratime Coordination Centre tasked the vessel to a location 40 miles North East of Tripoli.

Shortly after 7 am they located a rubber vessel with more than 100 people on board.

118 migrants were rescued but during the operation it became apparent their vessel was sinking.

5 bodies have since been recovered.