A major search off the south of England was suspended overnight and resumed at daybreak today. The search began on Saturday morning when an EPIRB alert was received from scalloper Joanna C a few miles south of Newhaven.
One man was recovered from the water and transferred by helicopter to hospital. Two other crew are still missing.
HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating the search since 6am on Saturday with a large number of rescue units have been involved, including Eastbourne and Newhaven RNLI lifeboats, two Coastguard rescue helicopters, the Coastguard fixed wing aircraft and Birling Gap and Beachy Head Coastguard Rescue Teams.
Twelve other vessels also responded to the Coastguard broadcasts and have been taking part in the search. ‘HM Coastguard’s National Maritime Operations Centre has co-ordinated a major rescue effort today, with many units searching tirelessly since first light and finding one casualty who has been recovered safely to hospital,’ said Chris Thomas, Deputy Director of HM Coastguard.
‘Sadly two other crewmen have not yet been found and all our thoughts are with their families and friends. It is testament to the local maritime community that HM Coastguard were so admirably supported throughout the day by nearby vessels and the local fishing communities who joined us in force and made strenuous efforts to locate their colleagues during the search. At one point, Coastguard coordinators described tracking 14 vessels covering the search plan area including the two RNLI all weather lifeboats at sea.’
