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Five fishermen have been rescued from an ice floe after their boat began taking on water off the north coast of Newfoundland.

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax says they received a mayday call from a fishing vessel in Notre Dame Bay on Sunday evening.

Major Martell Thompson says the boat was rapidly taking on water and the crew was forced to abandon ship.

Thompson says the crew then abandoned their life-raft and climbed onto an ice floe.

He says a Cormorant helicopter, a Hercules aircraft and a coast guard vessel were all on site within about an hour and 20 minutes.

Thompson says all five fishermen were hoisted to safety and all were in good condition.

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