Crippled sub being towed to safety
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 British ships try to rescue a Canadian submarine stranded in the Atlantic.
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LONDON, England -- A rescue operation to tow a stricken Canadian submarine to safety off the coast of Ireland is continuing.
Salvage vessel the Anglian Price started towing HMCS Chicoutimi, adrift 140km off the west coast of Ireland, at around 2030 BST on Thursday.
But the boat was moving at a speed of just three knots and was not expected to arrive at Faslane naval base on the Scottish coast until Sunday.
One crewman died and another is in intensive care following the fire, which broke out on Tuesday.
Master Seaman Archibald MacMaster was said to be in a "critical, but stable" condition at Sligo General Hospital in the Irish Republic.
The Press Association said he suffered extensive lung damage and may have to be put on a ventilator.
His colleague, Petty Officer Denis Lafleur, was in a "stable" condition, a spokeswoman for the hospital told PA.
She said Dr. Joe McKenna, a medical consultant at Sligo General, was monitoring the two men, both of whom were receiving oxygen.
Lieutenant Chris Saunders, a 32-year-old married father-of-two, died at the hospital on Wednesday night, after a Royal Navy Sea King airlifted the three injured sailors off the boat and was forced to make an emergency landing at the nearest hospital.
The bid to pull the Chicoutimi ashore started as previously "treacherous" weather conditions, which have blighted the rescue bid, abated.
Captain Dave Devenney, of the Canadian navy, told PA: "She's going to Faslane -- that is the plan just now. Anything could happen between then and now, it depends on the weather, but the plan is to bring her in to Scotland.
"It's calmer now -- the weather report is of two to three meter waves and winds of 10-15 knots, coming down from five to six metre swells and 25 knot winds."
The Chicoutimi, a Victoria-class submarine formerly named HMS Upholder, was sold by Britain to the Canadian Navy in 1998, but remained in British hands as BAE Systems prepared it for going back into service.
It was formally handed over to Canada a week ago.
Capt. Devenney said the remaining 54 crew on board were in "excellent spirits". "They were obviously upset at the loss of a fellow sailor, but understand there's a job to do and are focused on the recovery," he said.
Canadian vessel the HMCS St. John's had left Newfoundland and hoped to reach the submarine before it arrived back at Faslane, Scotland, so crew could transfer onto the boat to contact relatives and rest following the ordeal.
The blaze has triggered serious questions about the state of the submarine when it was sold, along with three others, to Canada from Britain.
The non-nuclear vessel, powered by diesel electric motors and built in the early 90s, was part of a package of four nearly-new submarines.
Just a week ago, it was suggested Canada might sue Britain over the purchase after they had been plagued by "serious malfunctions and corrosion."
The row has led Canadian opposition parties to question the legitimacy of the sale and the Canadian navy has pledged to undertake a full investigation. The MoD has insisted the submarine had passed safety standards.
