County Down Outlook - News - Fishermen unite to seek man lost at sea

News

Fishermen unite to seek man lost at sea

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

A NUMBER of Kilkeel fishermen rallied together to join the search for a missing fisherman last night (Monday).
The man is feared dead after he was blown overboard by a freak wave on Sunday.
The alarm was raised shortly before 1pm on Sunday (29 January) when the man, believed to be in his 30s, fell overboard.
An air and sea search resumed yesterday morning for the missing fisherman, who is believed to be of Eastern European origin.
He was on board a Kilkeel-registered boat, Zenith, believed to be owned by Mourne man Martin Nicholson, 19 miles east of the Co Louth fishing village of Clogherhead when the incident occurred.
It is believed that the skipper of the boat made the emergency call after the deck hand fell into the sea.
At the time of going to print the Republic's Naval Service patrol ship, the LE Ciara and the Dublin-based coastguard helicopter were assisting in the search, along with the Clogherhead lifeboat and a number of fishing vessels.
Maurice Lake of the Fisherman's Mission told The Outlook that tragic stories are some of the awful effects of the fishing industry.
“We got the phone call on Sunday (29 January) afternoon and as the afternoon went on, the search was called off and at that point the man overboard was presumed dead but the search resumed at first light this morning [Monday].
“I believe he was on the current boat, Zenith, for about three years.
“There are a number of boats out there with the lifeboat and helicopter. I believe there are four fishermen boats still searching for the man.
“I do not think there is a fishing community that hasn't been through this in Ireland," said Mr Lake, who added that part of his job is to offer pastoral and practical help and support to those affected by the incident.
Meanwhile, Mournes Councillor Henry Reilly said that the loss of a fisherman at sea is a real emotive issue in Mourne.
“The fishing community is a very tight knit group of people who will stand by and help each other out in difficult times. I believe he was blown over by a freak wave and I know that the skipper of the Zenith and his crew went to heroic lengths to save their comrade but the sea was too strong for them.
“The fishing industry can be a dangerous place to earn a living and I have always had the utmost respect for the men who go out to sea and bring in the fish that keeps jobs and a degree of prosperity in Mourne.
“I know that I speak for the entire community here when I send our sincere condolences to the family of the young fisherman and his crew members and friends. It is a tragic loss for all involved," said Councillor Reilly.