He is hauled back on board the crabber but can’t be revived

FRANTIC fishermen tried in vain to save their crewmate after he fell overboard.

Tragedy struck off the Sutherland coast when Mark Elder, 26, landed in the sea north of Cape Wrath.

His colleagues on the Scrabster-owned crabber the FV North Star managed to haul him back on board but he could not be revived.

Police confirmed yesterday that an investigation into the incident, which happened at about 8.40pm on Monday, was under way.

The fishing boat returned to Scrabster harbour, near Thurso, Caithness, with Mark’s body.

His next of kin have been informed. All the other crew members were safe and unhurt.

Last night, one of Mark’s best friends, Marc Hooker, paid tribute to his “brother” on Facebook.

He told friends: “I have never felt so lost in all my life. Sleep tight, Markie, my brother. We will meet again.

“Never forget all the times we have had and stuff we have been through. I will never forget you and I will always miss you.”

Mark, who was nicknamed Yank, studied at North Highland College and lived in Thurso.

Another colleague and friend from Thurso High School, Sean Sinclair, said on Facebook: “Yank, shine bright up there with the angels. My thoughts go to family and friends. This great young lad has been taken from us far too young.”

A joint police and marine accident investigation has been launched into the cirumstances.

Detective Inspector Scott Macdonald said: “We are working with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to establish the circumstances.” believed to be lying 459ft down in Loch Fyne, Argyll.

The ship capsized on January 18 and is thought to have trapped dad-of-two Duncan, 46, and colleague Przemek Krawczyk, 38, both of Tarbert, inside.

John Miller, 34, was saved by a passing boat.

Rev MacGregor, who grew up in Tarbert, said: “It was hard to believe that trapped on board was a man whom I have known most of my life.”

More than £213,000 has been raised by the fishing community to recover the men’s bodies. A hi-tech search of the sunken trawler began on Monday.