Man dies in hospital after rescue


A fishermen died after he and a crewmate were pulled from the sea when their boat, the 11m Heather Anne, sank last night four miles east of Falmouth.

They were recovered by another nearby fishing boat, the Lauren Kate, which witnessed the incident at Gerrans Bay and sent a Mayday to the Coastguard shortly after 10pm.

Falmouth Coastguard sent an RAF rescue helicopter to the scene, and both the local RNLI lifeboats, which arrived just 20 minutes after paging.

In Force 8 winds the helicopter winched the more seriously ill casualty, who had been given CPR onboard the Lauren Kate, for a transfer to Treliske Hospital. Sadly he did not recover.

The second man was taken to Mevagissey by lifeboat. After medical attention for the effects of being cold and wet he was said to be recovering well.

Today, beaches in the area are reported to be awash with debris.

The cause of the sinking is not yet known, nor whether the fishermen were wearing lifejackets. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch will be investigating the incident.

Image: MCA/Robby Norman

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