Human remains found
Nightmare nears an end for two grieving families who can finally prepare to lay loved ones to rest
Tragic discovery after trawler is raised from 450ft below loch surface
HUMAN remains were found on the sunken trawler Nancy Glen after it was lifted to the surface of a Scots loch yesterday.
Duncan MacDougall, 46, and Przemek Krawczyk, 38, are believed to be inside the vessel, which lay 450ft down below the surface of Loch Fyne, near Tarbert in Argyll.
The men, both married dads of two, lost their lives when the trawler sank near their home village of Tarbert on January 18.
Early indications last night suggested human remains were on board but the boat is still not safe enough for a full investigation to take place.
A Crown Office spokesman said: “Work has been ongoing to raise and secure the Nancy Glen.
“Salvage teams who have been on board the vessel have described finding human remains.
“While the vessel has now been lifted clear of the water, it remains unsafe for specialist officers from Police Scotland and the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit to enter the boat and complete the recovery and identification process.
“This process will not be completed until it is deemed safe to do so and the specialist teams will remain on standby.
“The families are being kept up to date with the progress being made. It is anticipated the teams will continue their work.”
When the boat capsized in January, a major search was launched by police and coastguard teams after a third fisherman, John Miller, 34, who raised the alarm, was pulled from the water by the crew of a passing boat.
However, crews were unable to find Duncan and Przemek.
In February, a fundraising campaign – supported by the Record – to recover the bodies and allow their families to lay the men to rest had already nearly reached its £200,000 target.
The Clyde Fishermen’s Association and Trust scrapped the original target and have asked the public to continued donating.
For weeks, research vessel Severn Sea has been removing debris using remote-controlled underwater vehicles to clear the way for police divers before a specialist lifting barge was brought in this week.
Earlier yesterday, police confirmed the vessel had been brought out the water.
A spokeswoman said: “We can confirm the boat has been raised and that efforts are ongoing to make it safe for police officers seeking to recover any bodies or remains which are on board.”
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch have already conducted a seabed survey of the ship.
The MAIB said they could not raise the boat but the Scottish Government stepped in to work with salvage specialists and the families of the crewmen to support efforts to retrieve the bodies.
As the recovery operation continues, the close-knit community in Tarbert continue to support the families and friends of the two missing men.
Tarbert SNP councillor Anne Horn said: “It’s a very difficult time but the community are still all together. Our hopes and prayers are with the families that they’ll soon be reunited with their loved ones.”
Almost £280,000 has been raised on the JustGiving crowdfunding site. The Scottish Government’s vow to pay for the attempt to lift the boat means all money raised can now go to the families.