A fatal accident inquiry is due to be held this week into the death of a fisherman who drowned off Scotland’s northwest coast two years ago.
Gary Forbes was dragged into the water after becoming caught on creel line.
Investigators previously said the tragedy had highlighted the need for fishermen to wear lifejackets while working on deck.
The Barnacle III crewman died on May 13, 2014, near Tanera Beag which is part of the Summer Isles.
The full inquiry into the circumstances of the 36-year-old’s death will be held at Inverness Sheriff Court.
A report last year from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) concluded that Mr Forbes was dragged under after his right leg became caught on a line.
It said that at 10.23am the boat’s skipper instructed Mr Forbes of Aultbea to release the first creels.
“While Gary worked the deck, the skipper remained in the wheelhouse to manoeuvre the vessel, glancing through the wheelhouse door to monitor Gary’s progress,” the report stated.
“At 10.27am, the Barnacle III’s radio received a distress alert from the fishing vessel Astra III. The skipper took this to be a false alarm.
“This distraction occupied the skipper’s attention for a short while, after which he looked aft and could no longer see Gary on deck. He immediately left the wheelhouse to check the area aft of the wheelhouse. The skipper started to turn the vessel around.
“Shortly afterwards, a wellington boot surfaced, and then Gary surfaced face down about 50 metres from the vessel.”
The report said the skipper then manoeuvred the vessel alongside and reached Mr Forbes through the vessel’s shooting door. He found that hisn colleague was not breathing.
It said that given the length of the buoy line, the distance at which he surfaced and the absence of his right Wellington boot, “his right leg probably became caught in the buoy line either while he was walking the weight to the vessel’s stern or shortly afterwards.”
The 37ft-long vessel, working out of Aultbea, was built in 1985.
