£42k raised to help recover men missing in trawler tragedy
‘Pay for vessel retrieval’
MORE than £40,000 has been raised to help fund efforts to bring home the bodies of two fishermen who are feared to have drowned when their vessel sank. Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk were on the 40ft prawn trawler Nancy Glen when it capsized and sank on Loch Fyne, Argyll, on Thursday evening.
A passing boat pulled their crewmate John Miller from the water. The 34-year-old was in a stable condition in hospital yesterday.
Attempts were made to keep the vessel on the surface but it sank and despite extensive search efforts no trace of the two men has been found.
All three men are from the village of Tarbert, which is just a few miles from where the boat went down.
Experts have warned the men’s families it could take months to recover their bodies as they are believed to still be on the boat, which is sitting on the sea bed at a depth of more than 450ft.
Mr MacDougall, 46, had two young sons, while 38-year-old Mr Krawczyk had a young daughter and a stepson.
Yesterday the Clyde Fishermen’s Association began efforts on behalf of the family to get the Royal Navy to help with the boat’s recovery.
The organisation has set up fundraising pages which received donations of more than £42,000 in under 24 hours. Elaine Whyte, the association’s executive secretary, said: ‘We are delighted with the fundraising as it offers the family a little security at this time.
‘We would like to see the money going directly to the families if possible, but we may have to pay for part of the vessel retrieval.
‘We have had estimates for that going up to £1million as it is down so far they will need a remotely operated vehicle and other specialist equipment. We are hoping we can work with the Government and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to try to have it lifted.’
A vigil for the missing men was held on Saturday evening, with scores of villagers lining the quayside in Tarbert to pay their respects.
Coastguard search teams were stood down on Sunday as hopes of finding the missing men faded.
Local fishing boats, however, have kept up the search.
A police spokesman said: ‘The search for the two missing fishermen is continuing in Loch Fyne in the area where the boat has been located.
‘Police Scotland and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch are investigating the circumstances to establish the cause of the incident.
‘Officers are also continuing to update and support the families of the two missing men.’