Distraught fishermen pull tragic colleague from water
Crew performed CPR on victim, 38
A FISHERMAN died after falling overboard from a trawler in treacherous 18ft swells.
The body of the 38-year-old victim, who is believed to be a foreign national, was pulled from the water by crewmen from the crabbing-catching vessel.
Fellow seamen performed CPR on the boat but the man was pronounced dead on board on Saturday night.
The tragedy unfolded around 112km north-west of Arranmore Island off Donegal.
At the time of the incident, crews battled strong winds and three to four-metre waves.
The Malin Head Coast Guard received a Mayday call at around 8.30pm.
They dispatched the Rescue 118 helicopter and the RNLI lifeboat in Arranmore was launched but both were stood down after the man was recovered.
The boat then returned to Ballyglass Pier in Belmullet in Mayo where gardai and ambulance personnel were waiting.
His body was removed to Mayo General Hospital for a postmortem.
Fine Gael Councillor Gerry Coyle said he was shocked after hearing the news.
He told the Irish Mirror last night: “The victim was living around the town for a while. Who wouldn’t be devastated? It’s just awful what happened.
“It’s just one tragedy after the other. It’s devastating. It’s one bad story after another.
“Nobody expects when you go out to do a day’s work that it’ll be your last.
“No family would expect not to see their loved one once they go out the door to work. The only good thing is the fellow crew were able to recover his body.” A Garda spokeswoman said: “Gardai and emergency services received a report of an incident involving a fishing vessel off the north-west coast of Donegal yesterday evening, Saturday 4th February 2023.
“A male crew member of the vessel went overboard before being recovered by crewmates.
“He was pronounced deceased on board the vessel.
“The boat made land at Ballyglass Pier in Belmullet, Co Mayo, where it was met by gardai and ambulance personnel.
“The body of the man, aged in his late 30s, has been taken to Mayo General Hospital where a postmortem will take place. An examination of the shipping vessel will be conducted. Enquiries are ongoing.”