|
A fishing crew described their ordeal this morning to Shetland Coastguard in seeing a colleague go overboard about 12 miles off the coast of Orkney earlier today.
The Coastguard began their intense search of the sea area to the west of Orkney at 4.20am this morning after hearing the crews call for help. The five-strong crew of the steel hulled fishing vessel ‘Noronya’, an 18.5 metre newly built crabber, described their colleague as not wearing a lifejacket but dressed in a grey jumper and yellow oilskins. They had immediately deployed a lifering and threw a smoke marker into the water near the spot where the man was seen to fall in. They then began their own search of the area using the marker as the starting point for their search.
An RNLI all weather lifeboat was immediately requested to assist and the Shetland based Coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled. The helicopter is equipped with a night sun searchlight and night vision capability. Urgent broadcast action was taken by the Coastguard who began to relay a mayday signal into the area to alert other vessels.
A variety of other vessels responded including many local fishing vessels and the warship Bangor and a full search is now being conducted in the area in an expanding box around the point of his entry into water taking into account wind and tide. The temperature of the water is presently 10 degrees.
Sandy Wylie, watch manager at Shetland Coastguard said 'The weather on scene is very good for searching presently. Force 2 to 3 south westerly winds, a very calm sea and very good visibility. If this man has any chance of survival then we will have to find him quickly.' The search continues.
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
