Fishermen Rescue Pirates Who Targeted Their Boat.

French fishermen rescues six Somali pirates from the sea, just minutes after the gang had attempted to board their vessel, it was revealed yesterday.

The crew of the Talenduic, a French tuna boat, were targeted by the pirates as they fished waters around 400 miles south of the Somali coast on March 8.

The French boat was forced to put out a call for help to other ships in the area when they were surrounded by three boats being piloted in an aggressive fashion.

The pirates then attempted to attack the fishing boat, apparently unaware that all French boats currently fishing in the region are carrying armed guards.

Their attack was reportedly countered with rifle fire causing them to abandon their attempts and make efforts to flee the area.

But in the panic two of the pirate craft were capsized, after being hit by swells and driving into a rescue vessel arriving on the scene, depositing half a dozen Somali pirates into the Indian Ocean.

The magnanimous French crew helped to rescue their attackers pulling them aboard one of the Tuna boats.

The unlikely tale of heroism comes at the end of a week that has seen a strong French presence in the treacherous waters, with counter piracy strikes led by the French navy vessel Le Nivose netting 35 suspected Somali pirates.