Sleep tight, Dad
‘Nightmare’ for family after fisherman John, 45, dies at sea
A POPULAR fisherman has died after falling overboard into the North Sea.
John Mctaggart, 45, from Lossiemouth in Moray, fell into the water shortly before 2am yesterday about four miles off the Stonehaven coast.
A massive search and rescue operation was launched to try to save the stricken sailor, who has been described as an “amazing man”.
An HM Coast guard helicopter was joined by RNLI crews from Stonehaven and
Aberdeen but John was pulled from the water and pronounced dead.
Heartbroken friends and loved ones paid tribute to John.
Daughter Chelsea shared the devastating news on social media in a moving tribute to her dad, who became a grandad in May.
She wrote: “Feel like I’m living in the worst possible nightmare.
“I am so heartbroken to be writing this, during the night my dad sadly lost his life at sea. My whole life he’s worked away, never did I imagine he’d never be coming home.
“I don’t know how I’ll ever come to terms with this but I promise I’ll do everything I can to stay strong for you and make you proud dad.
“Sleep tight, I’ll love you forever and ever.”
A friend wrote: “Sad news to wake up to today. Only speaking to you a couple of weeks ago.
“Definitely didn’t think it would be the last time.
“Thinking of all the family and friends at this heartbreaking time. RIP John Mctaggart.”
Another said: “Such sad news, thoughts to his family, friends and crew. RIP John, ye were a fine loon.”
A fourth wrote: “RIP John Mctaggart, you were an amazing man.”
An investigation into the accident has been launched.
A police spokeswoman said: “Around 3.15am on Tuesday, September 29, police were called to reports of a man having fallen into the sea from a fishing vessel near Stonehaven. Emergency services attended and a 45-yearold man was recovered from the sea and pronounced dead.”
A spokeswoman for HM Coastguard added: “We were contacted by the crew of a fishing vessel reporting a man overboard approximately four miles east of Stonehaven.
“The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Inverness, and Aberdeen and Stonehaven RNLI lifeboats were sent.
“Several commercial vessels that were in the area responded to mayday relay broadcasts and also assisted in the search.”