Arbroath fisherman dies after falling overboard in North Sea
Published:
AN ARBROATH fisherman died last night after falling overboard from a small vessel in the North Sea.
The man, named by the boat’s owner as Raymond Davidson, 52, had been fishing for lobster and crayfish aboard the three-crew Optik when he went overboard while shooting creels from the deck west of Bell Rock about 1.20pm yesterday.
The boat’s two other crew, including registered owner Anthony Iveson, 62, pulled him back on board.
Mr Davidson had been in the water for five minutes and was unconscious.
It was revealed later that the fisherman had not been wearing a lifejacket.
One of his companions gave Mr Davidson mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while the other alerted the emergency services.
Forth Coastguard mounted an emergency operation involving the RNLI lifeboat at Arbroath and a rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.
Forth Coastguard watch manager Angus McIver said weather conditions were favourable at the time of the rescue.
The vessel headed back towards the mainland with one crewman steering and the other giving Mr Davidson CPR. The rescue helicopter arrived at 2.23pm and a winchman lifted Mr Davidson from the vessel. He was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where staff in the accident and emergency department had been prepared, but he later died.
A spokesman for Tayside Police confirmed late last night that a 52-year-old man had died after falling overboard.
He said: “His colleague immediately alerted nearby fishing boats who attended in the area to assist the male.
“The male was pulled aboard and with the assistance of the coastguard he was subsequently airlifted to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee where sadly he later died.”
The spokesman added the man’s next of kin had been informed, and investigators from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch are expected to visit Arbroath today to launch an investigation into the man’s death.
The police spokesman also said a report on the incident would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
