Thirteen surviving crew members of longliner Argos Georgia arrived in Stanley yesterday and a fourteenth is expected to arrive today. The formal search of the area 200 nautical miles east of the Falkland Islands has now ended, although options for further search effort for those still missing will be kept under constant review over the coming days, stated the Honourable Jack Ford during a sitting of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly.
‘The follow-on phase is well underway, focused on the needs of both survivors and the deceased – and the families and loved ones of all those caught up in this dreadful event – not forgetting the impact on those involved in the recovery operation,’ he said.
He reported that aircraft made the first contact at the secne of Argos Georgia’s loss, monitoring life raft positions until patrol vessel Lillibet and fishing vessels Robin M Lee and Puerto Toro were able to reach the location. At extreme range and against extremely challenging weather conditions, helicopter operations had to be suspended.
‘As a result of very effective teamwork by all agencies and the tremendous efforts of all responders in the face of appalling weather, 14 crew members were rescued and nine bodies were recovered. The remaining four individuals are missing, presumed deceased. 13 of the 14 survivors returned to Stanley on Wednesday afternoon and were taken to the Lighthouse Mission to Seafarers to be medically assessed by KEMH staff, given welfare support, provided with clothing and other vital items, much of which had been donated by the local community, before being taken to their accommodation,’ Jack Ford stated, adding that the fourteenth survivor is on board Robin M Lee, on the way to Stanley.
‘The bodies of the deceased are also returning to Stanley onboard both Robin M Lee and Puerto Toro and the horrors that the crews have had to endure in retrieving the bodies of fellow fishermen, some of whom were known to them, must be acknowledged with profound gratitude,’ he said.
‘Puerto Toro has had a particularly difficult time in having to retrieve the bodies of eight people, without the joy and satisfaction of rescuing anyone alive.’
On behalf of the Legislative Assembly, Jack Ford offered heartfelt condolences to families and extended fulsome thanks to all those who responded so effectively.
‘Throughout this episode there has been a very significant amount of inaccurate information emanating from social media and mainstream media alike,’ he added.
‘The Falkland Islands Government have been able to release factual information since the incident happened – but that sometimes comes at a cost in terms of speed – as we have to have a level of sensitivity and check what we say with a number of stakeholders in these situations.’
