The LE Niamh has returned home.

Friends and family of the crew were at Haulbowline harbour in Cork to welcome the naval officers home from their tour of duty in the Mediterranean, where they were involved in the rescue of some 4,000 refugees.

It was the crew's second humanitarian mission to the region.

Leading Seaman Alex Casey spoke about an operation in which the crew managed to save over 350 refugees after a boat capsized.

He says he successfully revived an unresponsive child:

Michelle Connell is the sister of medic Paul Connell:

The Irish Embassy in Malta tweeted these pictures of the LE Niamh on her way home last week: 

L.É. Niamh leaving #Malta this am. Slán abhaile, saħħa! @simoncoveney @AbelaCarmelo @defenceforces @Armed_Forces_MT pic.twitter.com/m1rjEiXaXG

— Irish Embassy Malta (@IrishEmbMalta) September 26, 2015

The LE Samuel Beckett has arrived in the Mediterranean for their search and rescue mission, taking over from the LE Niamh.

Reporting with thanks to Cork's 96FM