Crew mates could not have saved fisherman

A REPORT into a tragic accident that cost the life of a fisherman off the West Cork coast, found there was little his crewmates could have done to help him. 

The investigation took place following the death of an Egyptian crew member on board the Kedge Fishing Ltd Baltimore-registered trawler, the 24m MFV Endurance, on Tuesday November 8th 2016.

The Endurance sailed from Castletownbere on Sunday November 6th 2016 to fish for prawns, with a skipper and seven crew members on board, and began fishing approximately 200 miles off the coast on the Tuesday.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) Report stated that the weather was not a factor in the death.

The skipper and crew had identified that the net they were hauling in was extremely heavy and were trained to deal with such an incident.

The MCIB report continued: ‘The net was swept sideways by the motion of the sea and the vessel towards the starboard quarter which pushed the [Egyptian] crew member with it. The crew member was seen to be carried by the force of the net towards the starboard rail, where he was physically inverted, crushed against the starboard rail and was then pushed over the rail by the force of the net.’

The skipper and crew immediately went to his rescue and managed to get a rope attached to prevent him from falling into the water. They then cleared the net off him and pulled him back over the rail onto the deck and into the wheelhouse.

However, he was un-responsive. CPR was administered, but it was to no avail.

The Endurance returned to Castletownbere and the deceased was then removed to Cork University Hospital.

The MCIB report also stated that following an autopsy, traces of marijuana were discovered. The report said the speed of the events did not afford any crew member time to take any preventative action.