Six fishermen from France were rescued from a stranded fishing boat which was caught in 20ft waves and gale force winds caused by Storm Gareth.
Newquay Coastguard, another fishing crew, and Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat tried to help the crew but struggled to throw them a tow rope in the dangerous weather.
Footage showed the six men being airlifted onto a hovering helicopter from their boat below in violent weather conditions.
Coastguard helicopter captain Sharky Finn said: “We were flying into a Force 8 gale with 20ft high waves swirling beneath us.”
“We could clearly see the fishing vessel disappearing beneath the swell as we approached,” he said.
“Needless to say, it stretched the capabilities of both the crew and the aircraft.”
As Storm Gareth sweeps the country, three yellow Met Office weather warnings are in place until Thursday.
Gusts of up to 80mph along coasts have been forecasted in northern England.
